A/N: YAY FOR PUNCTUALITY (when in reality, my cousins have been staying over, and: 13-year old with mentality of 8-year old + 10-year old sister + violent 6-year old + diva 7-year old = anger issues that prompted anger-fuel writing)!
This is very unnatural, but yes, I am indulging you.
HEHEHEHE, perfect timing, since this chapter is called KIDS! [and stars a very intelligent, very devious 8-year old.]
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters. Maybe Little Asuma [the intelligent, devious 8-year old], because for all we know, Kurenai had a girl. o_O
K is for Kids: because babysitting's more interesting when the kid's smart too.
"How troublesome..." Shikamaru drawled, staring his deceased teacher's spouse down, attempting to change her mind. He was obviously failing, but it didn't hurt to try.
"Well Shikamaru, I have no choice. It's either you, or...no, just you." Kurenai replied, closing the pack with a quick zip.
"I have training." He reasoned.
"That's never stopped you from sleeping, so why not use your slacking valuably and watch over your godson?" The red-eyed woman scolded, arms on her sides.
"Tell me again why Chouji or Ino can't do it?"
"He's having a stomachache, she got hay fever a few days ago."
"She's a medic." Shikamaru muttered to himself, knowing full well that Ino just wanted time off. Again. "Hinata?"
"Mission, with Kiba and Shino." The older woman explained, then laughed to herself. "As if I'd leave Asuma-kun with any of those boys without Hinata there." She said, citing the rowdy dog-nin and the impassive bug-user wouldn't be very good babysitters.
Shikamaru let out a troubled sigh. "Fine, I'll watch over him, but I'm gonna have to take him to the training fields with me this afternoon."
Kurenai returned the sigh as she looked at her living room wall clock. "I have no choice. I'm already late by Kakashi's standards. Just make sure you show up to pick him up from school, okay?"
The pineapple head stood from the couch as Kurenai was about to leave. "I know."
With a small smile, the motherly woman pat the ANBU's head. "You aren't a genius for nothing, Shikamaru. Now take good care of my son. I'll be back in three days!" She ran out of the house hurriedly, Shikamaru following her out the door.
"Troublesome mothers..."
~O~
Shikamaru took his time—after all, he had another three hours—before picking up 8-year old Asuma Jr. (Kurenai wanted to pay homage to her late husband) from the Ninja Academy. He got out at 3 PM. Shikamaru stood outside the red building five minutes before, occupied with watching the clouds.
"Uncle Shikamaru!" The brunette boy called out from the academy's entrance five minutes after his uncle's arrival. "Mama told me you were gonna pick me up today."
Shikamaru gave the kid a small smile, squatting to receive the hug he hinted with his arms wide open. "Missed you kid. How've you been?" He asked politely, putting Asuma down and taking his hand, leading him towards the training fields.
"I've been good. Homework's a drag and all," He quoted his favorite uncle. Shikamaru couldn't help but smirk. "But I'm trying my best to be as awesome as you, Uncle Shika!" He exclaimed excitedly.
The smirk dropped. He knew the kid was going to give him a hard time. 'This is the consequence for Konohamaru's influence.' He thought to himself, noting as to where the hyperactive side of the kid came from.
"Kid, bad news." Shikamaru started.
"What's it, Uncle Shika?" Asuma stopped walking, staring up at the older male with large red-brown eyes.
"You're gonna have to come with me to train with my team." He stated.
Large, red-brown eyes blinked expectantly, while small black ones narrowed, waiting for the reaction. Probably an "aw, man!", considering he is Shikamaru's godson.
"THAT'S SO COOL! I GET TO WATCH THE DREAM TEAM SPAR!"
'Dammit, I should tell Kurenai to get him to stop hanging out with Konohamaru...'
~O~
"Oy, Shikamaru! You're late!" Sakura cried from her position on the grass. She was apparently trying to recover from some horrible thing either Neji or Sasuke had inflicted on her, judging by the chakra glowing around her torso and upper arms. She suddenly jumped up when she saw the little figure latched onto Shikamaru's left leg. "Is that...Asuma-kun?"
"Oh, Doctor Sakura-neechan!" Little Asuma's face lit up as he waved eagerly. When he caught eye of the other two genii though, his happiness was replaced with something more akin to fear.
Sakura and Shikamaru followed the boy's gaze, watching the intimidating Hyuuga and brooding Uchiha walk their way.
"It's fine, Asuma-kun. The scary men are actually very, very nice." Sakura cooed, causing the said men to twitch slightly.
Shikamaru snorted, turning to the team captain. "What are we doing today?" He asked.
"Free-for-all. Started without you." Neji explained bluntly.
"Up for another round?" Said the Uchiha with a cocky tone in his voice.
Sakura held her hands up to say no. "I'm sitting this one out. That last Jyuuken really got to me. Besides," She jerked a thumb towards Shikamaru's godson. "Someone's gotta watch over the kid."
"Yay, Doctor Sakura-neechan will sit with me!" The child cried in admiration, disengaging himself from his godfather and latching on to the pink-haired kunoichi. The two walked to the large oak tree in the clearing, sitting themselves down by its roots. The medic then continued healing herself as she and little Asuma held a conversation.
~O~
About half an hour later, the three boys came back from their free-for-all. Neji's robe was slightly charred, as was Shikamaru's pant leg. Sasuke's Uchiha shirt was almost completely shredded, hanging only by the fabric on his shoulders. Though their clothes were in disarray, there was barely any blood, and Sakura didn't waste any chakra in healing them.
They assembled in the way they usually do after training, except that Sasuke opted to sit in the gnarly branches of the tree while Sakura and Shikamaru leaned against the tree trunk, entertaining the 8-year old in their midst.
"Troublesome kid," Shikamaru commented, but the action of patting his head gave away the fact that this boy is very important in his life. "Sorry if he bugged you."
"I wasn't bugging Doctor Sakura-neechan!" Asuma retaliated, making a 'hmph' sound to add to it.
Sakura's hand made a sweeping motion. "Don't mention it; I love kids. Besides, we were just talking about you and Temari."
The pineapple head raised an eyebrow, looking at his guilty godson. "What about me and Temari?"
"Just that I really like Temari-chan, and that I want cousins! Baby cousins who I can teach when we get older and when I become a cool shinobi like you guys!" Asuma declared with a cheeky grin.
Neji and Sasuke both smirked, regardless of them facing away from the conversation. Sakura smiled, slightly amused at the prospect of an extremely smart kid with a giant fan, scruffy golden hair and a really smug smirky face.
Shikamaru felt blood rush to his cheeks, but forced it down quickly. "A bit early to be thinking about that, kiddo."
Little Asuma pouted, but his attention was then turned to the medic in the team. "Then, I want the kids from Doctor Sakura-neechan and Uchiha-san or,—or Hyuuga-san—yeah! I want their kids to be my playmates, but since I'll be older than them and I can say that I'm smarter and more experienced that the Uchiha or Hyuuga kid!"
At this, the four geniuses were flabbergasted. Sakura, mostly, as she had turned a shade of red that clashed horribly with her bright pink hair. Sasuke and Neji just looked at each other with something that could equate to rivalry.
"Kiddo, it's a little too early to think about that." Shikamaru answered after a long, long moment of awkward silence.
'Though, it isn't impossible.'
A/N: Okay, the kid doesn't know that he's extremely intelligent and devious. SO INTELLIGENT AND DEVIOUS, that he was able to get the Dream Team on edge. :D
HEHEHE, so I updated early, got a little fluffy hotness in there, and released some of my anger on my (poor, abused) keyboard. I THINK I DESERVE A MEDAL (or a review). - wink wink -
Hope you enjoyed! L will hopefully come as soon as K did! (yes, I address the chapters by their letters. -.-")
~Bella