It took me a bit but here's the next chapter.

"You look different. Both of you. . ." Gaara noted, watching as Shikamaru smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head while a few strands of his hair curled possessively along his neck. Gaara turned his gaze to his sister, and watched her almost mimic Shikamaru's reaction. And he had no clue as to why. He decided just to regard it as a couple's ways and end it like that. Gaara left, not bothering to hear their explanation as to why they had their hair down.

"I'll let it go for now," Temari huffed as she turned back to face Shikamaru who just rolled his eyes. And he shook his head and remembered what Kankuro had told him and he hoped Temari wouldn't have a horrible reaction to it.

"Um Temari?" Shikamaru asked hesitatingly but continued on when Temari looked at him expectantly, " Kankuro lied about Ino needing your help with her dress. He just wanted to talk with me for a bit before sending me on after you."

". . ." Temari looked at him with annoyed burning eyes and right when he thought she was finally calm, she snarled, "I'm gonna kill that puppet loving brother of mine!"

"I'm not sure Ino will be okay with that," Shikamaru drawled as he wished the kimono he wore had pockets. He slumped his shoulders into a lazy like persona that always came naturally to him, "And it is his engagement party."

Temari calmed down, but had a wicked twinkle in her eye that made Shikamaru wonder what kind of trouble Kankuro would be in for. With her, one never knew what to expect.

" I guess so, but I'm so getting him back for it. Making me look weak and dumb. It's bad enough I have to deal with you beating me at Shoji," Temari sighed before she grinned at him, "C'mon Crybaby, we need to go back to the main hall."

She took his arm and marched off towards the main room, but even though there was still a fierce expression on her face, she relaxed enough to lean her head on his shoulder. Shikamaru guessed it was just her pride showing and that she wanted to show him off. But he was okay with it. It felt wonderful to be back by her side, even if there was a chance that at any moment she could get riled up.

"This is gonna be such a drag," Shikamaru sweat dropped knowing he was whipped. He sighed with reluctance, also realizing how much trouble this was all gonna be. Shikamaru hoped he would survive through it all.

"What was that?!" Temari snapped scowling at the lazy half dazed look on his face. She studied him for a moment and asked again with a slight softer voice, "What are you thinking, Shikamaru?"

"Just about how troublesome this is gonna be. . . But it's worth it," Shikamaru told her, which made her shake her head even though she smiled while doing so. Temari needed to get herself back into her tough mode, but it might take some getting used to these new feelings of hers.

Any normal person would have politely accepted in order to get the whole thing over with. A normal person would have walked forward with some form of dignity in order to complete the demand, despite any reluctance on their part. Even someone like Sai would know that the proper thing to do at an important event such as the lovely engagement party. But Sai wasn't chosen; instead another person had been given the task of announcing the engaged couple. Someone with a very loud booming voice who would probably never know that his voice was causing a very annoying headache to his sensei.

"Why me? Why can't you get Sakura or Sasuke to do it instead? I won't do it. No matter what," complained Naruto crossing his arms as he glared at the messenger who happened to be Kakashi sensei.

" Why not think about it being a mission that neither of them could accomplish," Kakashi persuaded trying to get Naruto to agree to announce the engaged couple. After all, Naruto had a announcer's voice and he was perfect for the job.

"I don't wanna- Wait, you mean I can do better than them? Really?" Naruto's expression changed from disdain to excited and then to suspicious, "What?! I don't get it. Who suggested this anyway?"

"Tsunade-Sama mentioned that with your booming type of voice, you would be perfect as an announcer. And who knows, maybe I'll be obligated to visit Ichiraku," Kakashi said with a slight vagueness, that Naruto missed in Kakashi-Sensei's carefully worded bribe.

"ALRIGHT! Let's get this task done and over with," Naruto grumbled as he walked towards the middle of the large reception hall which was dimly lit and had a huge almost golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Naruto kept walking proudly forward but as he noticed others murmuring low beneath their breaths and giggling, Naruto hesitated walked a few steps and paused into a still stance that would be unnerving if one didn't know that he was a ninja. But practically everyone knew that the obnoxious knuckled-headed blond was indeed a proud Shinobi. He instantly swung around to face Kakashi with a fearful expression that was strangely laughable, "Wait what am I supposed to say?"

Hatake Kakashi's eye crinkled as he smiled beneath a black silk mask. His students still needed him, even if was for something as simple as talking to a large audience. He supposed that the feeling of an intense dislike radiated off from Naruto, for having laughed at him.

"Hmm. . . I was going to have you read off this note card, but you had walked off too fast for me to give it to you," smoothly Kakashi responded as Naruto stuck out his hand and waited. When Kakashi failed to give him the note, Naruto glared at him.

"Well? Aren't you gonna give it to me?"

"Oh, I didn't realize you wanted it," Kakashi said cheekily as he pressed the note card into Naruto's hand while rubbing the back of his head sheepishly while Naruto spouted off a few remarks that wasn't particularly favorable to the Copy-Nin.