Author's Note:

Sorry I didn't update last weekend! I had some bad pain and my doctor quickly sent me in for tests. I'm ok, but I was out for a bit due to the pain and all the tests. The things they make you drink for scans… Ugg… Anyways! I am still working on the next chapter, but here is a Thanksgiving special!

I don't know if the Japanese culture has something similar to Thanksgiving and I'm sure they don't do turkey dinners, but I wanted to write a "thankful day" of sorts, so here's to hoping it goes well!

Disclaimer: This occurs in a mysterious time after Tsunade is made the Hokage, but before the time skip.

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Thanksgiving Special:

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"SHIKAKU! GET YOUR ASS IN HERE!"

It was early in the morning and Yoshino had already started the oven – getting it ready for the turkey. The counters and table had bags of different foods, utensils, and container for cooking and serving. Every year, the head of the Clan hosts a party to give thanks to the clan, the village, and for the peace they all share together. Friends of the clan head's family were also invited.

Unfortunately for those of the clan head's family, it was also the day Yoshino lost her shit and went on a rampage, trying to get ready for the madness that is the Nara clan.

Kanoko, for example, was currently quietly running around the house – looking for her brother to offer up to her mother on a silver platter.

Shikamaru – having been victim to this for the last three years – had gone all out this year. He started planning as soon as he was caught last year and had strategically placed traps and distraction his sister would have to go through before getting even a hint of his location.

Wiping her face from the last ink trap, Kanoko gritted her teeth before her eyes went wide as she turned the corner. Quickly, she ducked to avoid a barrage of kunai heading towards her. From the ground, she looked back at the kunai stuck in the wall and narrowed her eyes, "Oh. It's on."

Kanoko poofed away.

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Shikamaru yawned quietly as he tried to get comfortable for the hundredth time. He gave the wall an annoyed look – it was hard to get comfortable when you were hiding in the deer's food storage locker. Shikamaru smirked to himself. He had placed a number of traps and clues that would lead Kanoko (and his father – who also sold him out) running around just long enough before getting caught by their mother.

Then… He would be in the clear.

Shikamaru exhaled in content as he tried to move his arms behind his head with a smirk.

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*DOOOSH*

Shikamaru fell out of the food storage locker with a dramatic crash – getting caught completely off guard. Shikamaru groaned as he blink at the sudden light and moved his head around to look up at the person who roughly opened the storage locker doors.

"Kiba…?" Shikamaru asked with a drawl before narrowing his eyes, "What the hell are you doing here…"

Kiba crossed his arms as Akamaru started to lick at Shikamaru's face – who's face scrunch up in disgust, "I was invited. Duh!"

"Did you find him?! Damn! I thought for sure I had him!" Naruto whined, running up behind Kiba and grinning widely at Shikamaru.

Shikamaru grumbled as he lazily pulled himself to his feet. He rubbed the back of his neck before speaking passed Kiba and Naruto with a scowl, "…That's cheating…"

Kanoko shrugged before throwing Shikamaru over her shoulder, "As promised, Shikamaru's share of the meat is yours." Kanoko spoke to Kiba, who grinned before turning to Akamaru with a thumb ups, "Here that boy! Double meat!"

Shikamaru turned his head and started to struggle sluggishly, "Hey! You can't just throw me to the wolves andtake my food!"

Kanoko just started walking towards the house with her hold on her brother firm, "Maybe next time you don't try to kill me with kunai."

Shikamaru just proper his elbow on his sisters back and leaned on his hand, "Maybe next year I won't miss…"

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As usual, even after finding her brother (and father – who was always easily found at the nearest pub, having been drinking the night before to be thoroughly drunk for the next day), Kanoko still was stuck on potato peeling duty.

Kanoko rubbed her hand from the soreness as she glared at the large pile before her. She hadn't even started and the memory of the pain was already giving her a cramp… Exhaling, Kanoko got started before her gaze shifter to her father, "At least I'm not stuck on gofer duty…"

Kanoko would be lying if she said she didn't chuckle at the fearful, sluggish, hung over, and confused expression of her father as Yoshino barked out a series of orders faster than a humming bird's beating wings. Every year, Shikaku would hold his head and slowly ask for her to repeat before Yoshino started waving her rolling pin (because she always started on the pies after the turkey was placed in the oven), trying to hit him – in the hope that she could beat the stupid out of him.

Chuckling lowly, Kanoko looked across from her to her hunched over brother – who was starting to doze off. Glaring, Kanoko threw a potato at him – hitting him in the face, making him fall back with a yelp. Rubbing his face, he glared back at him sister before mumbling, "…Why are all Nara women so violent...?"

Kanoko started peeling again and raised an eyebrow, "Why are all Nara men so infuriating?"

Shikamaru shrugged, "Because we're lazy?"

Kanoko smirked, throwing another peel potato into the pot, "See? Even you agree." Her brother scowled at her and continued to peel.

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The guests started to arrive, and as the clan head's heirs, Kanoko and Shikamaru were in charge of welcoming them in and showing them to the back – trading pleasantries while doing so. Going back to Kanoko's time as the Second Hokage, schmoozing was something she knew well. Putting on her, "I am listening to you intently" face and nodding at their words – giving a few of her own for them to chew on – Kanoko dropped them off to her father for a final welcome and thanks for serving the clan.

Shikamaru, however…

Kanoko smirked in amusement as her brother turned red and mumbled as another Nara clanswoman teased him for his cuteness and likeness to his father. Shikamaru was still learning on handling large crowds of people at once. Kanoko didn't blame him for stumbling. They just started to become more involved in the clan three years ago and the Nara clan was just as tricky as their parents. Thankfully, most of them were just as lax and while the men liked to tease the kids, the women picked on their husbands/boyfriends/fiancés.

*CRASH*

Kanoko groaned.

And then there were her and Shikamaru's "friends".

"Get back here you mutt!" Naruto yelled, chasing Kiba with cider dripping down his front. Kiba laughed loudly as he raced behind tables and weaving through people. Sasuke calming walked up behind Kanoko with his hands in his pockets, "…Every day I feel sorry for us…"

Kanoko nodded with a raised eyebrow, "…I don't know how you do it… I would have neutered Kiba long before now."

Sasuke smirked, "And Naruto isn't worse?" The Uchiha gave Naruto, who had caught Kiba and were now on the ground wrestling, a blank stare, "I would have gone insane… Probably tried to kill him, betray the village, or something like that…"

Kanoko gave Sasuke a leery look, "…Well let's just be thankful things turned out differently…" Sasuke shrugged before walking out to meet up with a skittish Hinata – who was hiding behind an annoyed looking Neji.

"Kanoko! HELP!"

Sighing, Kanoko turned to her brother's pleas of help and slowly moved up to the scene. Walking up to Ino, who was giggling, Kanoko gave her a dull look, "Yukina's trying to seduce Shikamaru again I see."

Sakura, standing next to Ino with a worried look, spoke, "Is that the little girl dragging Shikamaru around and introducing him as her fiancé?" Sakura's eyes were firm on a small dark haired girl pulling Shikamaru by his ear roughly around to the various clansmen.

"Fiancé? Wow. She's really stepping up her game this year." Kanoko drawled out sarcastically. Ino giggled into her hand, before turning a catty grin at her, "Aren't you going to help him? What's Shikamaru going to do, if his knight in shining armor doesn't come to his rescue? Who will save him?!"

Kanoko glared at Ino and crossed her arms. Ino giggled louder before calling out to Shikamaru, "Keep the Yamanaka shop in mind when you start planning the wedding!"

Shikamaru's eye twitched as he tried to pull away from the girl's death grip before glaring at his teammate, "I'm letting you hit the ground the next time you use your jutsu! I hope it's muddy out when it happens too!"

Sakura's eyebrows flew up, not having seen Shikamaru so animated before, "…Wow. He's really angry…"

Ino just laughed and waved her hand around at Sakura's concern, "This is just Shikamaru with no sleep, hurt pride, and at the mercy of the clan's women. Let's just say this is the worst day of the year for him."

"And your favorite day of the year – outside your birthday." Choji said, walking up from behind with a content smile. Kanoko saw a half finished plate of turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes in his hand.

Ino shrugged, "As if it's not your favorite too." Choji grinned, "Oh yeah! All this food made by Auntie Yoshino! It's almost as good as kaa-san's!"

Sakura giggled at Choji's enthusiasm before turning around at the dark aura standing behind them. Turning around, Sakura yelped while Ino and Choji ran away laughing at Shikamaru's ruffled form. Kanoko watched Sakura run after Ino with a "Wait! Don't leave me!" before raising her eyebrow at her brother.

"Do you need a witness for your wedding?" Kanoko tilted her head sluggishly to look around, "I think Naruto's available…"

Shikamaru's eye twitched harder and opened his mouth to chew Kanoko out for her betrayal when the small demon of Shikamaru's nightmares ran up in front of Shikamaru, "Stay away from my future husband, you witch!"

Shikamaru and Kanoko stared bewildered at Yukina. Never before had she acted so aggressively towards Kanoko – on contrast, she typically called her Kanoko-nee-chan and told her how excited she was to have Kanoko as a sister.

Crouching down to Yukina's level, Kanoko faced Yukina's scrunched up face, "Yukina-chan… Did I do something to upset you? If so, I do apologize…"

Yukina huffed and puffed out her cheeks, "Just stay away from Shika-kun! He's mine and you can't have him!"

Standing back up, Kanoko raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to respond when Yukina's sister quickly walked up behind Yukina and spoke apologetically, "Oh my! Please ignore her! She heard the girls talking about Shikamaru-san… and you… and took their gossiping to heart…"

Shikamaru turned to Yukina's sister with a curious look. She shifted nervously with a red face – clearly embarrassed to repeat what they said. She was relieved from speaking when Shikaku and his teammates wandered over to the group with pink faces from too much sake.

Inoichi choked out a laugh while pointing at Kanoko, "I gotta say… Thank you… To you!" Kanoko gave him a blank look as he continued drunkenly, "You see… When Ino was born… I thought for sure… I would have it the hardest… of the three of us… Surely no Nara woman…. Could be more trouble… Than an Yamanka!"

Choza barked out a laugh as he interrupted Inoichi and finished before him, "But were we wrong! I'm surprised Shikaku hasn't had a heart attack yet – let alone a full head of hair!" Choza and Inoichi joined in laughter at their grumbling and embarrassed friend and teammate.

"…I hate both of you…" Shikaku mumbled out, moving the sake glass to his mouth.

"SHIKAKU!"

Shikaku choked on his sake, spitting it out onto his teammates.

"Damnit Nara! This is my wife's favorite shirt! She's going to kill me!" Inoichi groaned while Choza just continued to laugh – not caring.

Shikaku ignore his friends and moved, like a man walking towards his death, towards his wife, "Yes dear…"

Kanoko watched her father walk up to Yoshino, who was showing the Hokage to the backyard. Kanoko couldn't hear them from this distance, but she saw her grandniece bark out a laughed before saying something Kanoko guessed had to do with alcohol – judging from the angst look on Shizune's face. Torune placed a comforting hand on Shizune's shoulder – trying to get her to relax while Shino strolled right passed them and made his way to Naruto.

Kanoko watched as Naruto quickly pulled Shino into the little genin group they started – laughing about the year and all that had happened.

Kanoko started to move, to join them, before grunting when she felt a sharp kick to her shin.

"YUKINA!" Her sister chastised her, grabbing her hand and dragging her away, "What did I tell you about kicking people?!"

Kanoko rubbed her pulsing shin while letting a few curses. Shikamaru smirked at his sister, happy to see someone else in pain and suffering besides himself.

Standing back up, Kanoko looked around the yard, "Looks like everyone is here… All the genin teams and the Hyuuga's team…"

"It's nice to know that my presence isn't that important to my own cute genin…"

Kanoko didn't turn around to face her sensei and just grunted, "Gai was going to chase you in at some point…"

"MY ESTEEMED RIVAL! YOU FINALLY MAKE YOUR ENTRANCE!" Gai shouted, Lee standing behind him with stars in his eyes, "ARE WE ABOUT TO WITNESS THE YOUTHFUL AND GLORIOUS BATTLE BETWEEN RIVALS SUCH AS GAI-SENSEI AND KAKASHI-SENSEI?!"

Gai smirk, "Such cool figures as Kakashi and I would not allow our rivalry to get in the way of such a youthful gathering to show thanks - which the Nara Clan kindly puts on." Gai nodded, "YES! Such things are for a different time and place, but make no mistake!" Gai points to a bored looking Kakashi, "We will face off again soon! And this time, I will be the victor! HAHAHA!"

"YES GAI-SENSEI!" Lee shouted while leaping in the air.

"Lee! Inside voice!" Tenten yelled at her teammate. Lee look at Tenten in confusing, "But… We're outside…" Neji came up from behind with a scowl, "It's an expression. It means, stop shouting in public."

"Don't forget about us." Shikamaru and Kanoko heard from behind. Turning around again, Shikamaru watched his sensei and his "not girlfriend" walk up. With his hand in his pockets, trying to look cool, Asuma spoke around the cigarette in his mouth, "Surely I'm my presence means more than the one eyed scarecrow?"

Asuma smirked at Kakashi's unimpressed look, "Oh come on. That was funny!" Kurenai giggled next to him, "You thinking it's funny is what's funny." Asuma groaned before mumbling, "No respect these days…"

*DING DING*

Everyone turned their heads to the sound of metal hitting a glass gently. Standing tall in the middle was their father, Shikaku. Taking a look around with a content smile, he spoke, "Thank you all for coming here. Every year we have a celebration to thank those of the Nara clan for their work for their families, their neighbors, and their village. This clan… Our clan is something to be truly proud of. Not for our growing knowledge and scientific advances in healing and nutrition properties; not for our expansive skills in battle tactics and yin jutsus; and not for our vast lands with a wealth of animal and plant life.

What makes me proud to be a Nara is our commitment we have for those beyond ourselves. We are always worrying, fighting, building, and thinking for others. And never once, has that dedication of care been limited to just those in our clan.

Look around! You will find more than those of the Nara clan here to celebrate in thanks! And while I would open up my doors to the village to celebrate this day with everyone, my wife would likely smother me in my sleep for the amount of food it would take to feed the whole village!"

Everyone laughed as Yoshino gave Shikaku a pointed look before smiling widely to the group.

Chuckling with everyone, Shikaku started up again, "You are more than warriors and protectors. You're healers, scientists, harvesters, researchers, care givers, cook – mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers – you offer so much to us all. And you do so while asking for so little.

And so, before you dig in and enjoy the feast which my son will tell you he bled over while making with his sister and mother, I just want to say:

Thank you."

Shikaku raised his glass as he finished. Everyone raised their own glass for a cheer, shouting out a thank you in unison. It didn't take long for everyone to create a line around the food and chat joyfully with one and another.

Kanoko smiled slightly at the sight before turning back to Shikamaru with a content smile, "Come on. I promised your meat to Kiba." Shikamaru sighed, but followed his sister with a grin of his own.

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Much later, after everyone had left and everything was cleaned up, Yoshino quietly called Shikaku over to gaze at their cute children. Shikaku sluggishly came up behind his wife and his face softened. Passed out on the living room carpet was Kanoko on her back – one arm loosely by her side while the other rested on the back of her brother's head. Arms wrapped around her stomach and head resting on her belly was Shikamaru – his legs curled slightly.

Hugging Yoshino from behind, Shikaku kissed the back of her head before whispering in her ear, "I'm also thankful for this: My perfect family." Yoshino smiled as she leaned back into her husband's chest and nodded, "Me too. Me too."