Author's Note:

Hello loyal readers! Before I give my Reviewers' Special Shout Outs, I have a question for you guys. It is getting closer the point where my story will almost completely curve away from the manga/ anime. So, with that being said, I am thinking of adding music to a few of my chapters where things are going to be a little dramatic. And for those of you who have read my stories previously, I have done this before with success. So, what I am going to be doing is posting two short chapters this weekend. After they are posted, please visit my profile for two polls that will be uploaded. Both will have the titles and artists' names of the two songs I plan on adding into the story. As an FYI, I WILL NOT be telling ANYONE where these songs will be introduced until the chapter is posted. So, please go onto my profile, listen to the songs I plan on adding and vote if you would like to see both these songs in this story.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The polls will end when I finally get to the chapter where the songs will go. So don't worry, they won't be taken down for a while. I especially want to do this for the readers who are possibly just discovering this story. So, don't forget to vote on my polls after reading these next two chapters.

Reviewers' Special Shout Out:

Inuyasha16451: Thank you so much for your review. I'm glad you're enjoying this story and hope to read more from you.

Lara5170: To answer your question: yes, that did happen. Naruto, Kakashi, and Shikamaru rescued Gaara before they could take away ShuKaku. I went back and changed it as well as another detail in Chapter 14. As for your second question. No, no one ever told Sasuke about his clan's part on Konoha the night Naruto was born. So, now Sasuke is on his current quest to find out the truth.

Finals almost ov3r yay: I'm so glad you found the story. I hope you enjoy reading these next two chapters as well.

Thanks for everyone for your amazing reviews. Keep them coming!

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Chapter 16: Shikamaru's Regret

Shikamaru's P.O.V.

"It was all my fault. Everything that happened, I should have prevented it. I'm supposed to be the one with the brains. Asuma has always told me that I'm the one who is able to predict 100 moves ahead of the game. So, why wasn't I able to see this coming? Asuma, is he dead? The last thing I honestly remember is Naruto's team coming to save us. Naruto… that guy always seems to be showing up whenever someone's in trouble. But he shouldn't have been the one to save us. I should have saved everyone. I shouldn't have even put them in that position. I knew that this wasn't going to be an easy mission, but fuck! It shouldn't have been that hard either. Ino… Choji… Asuma-sensei… They all could have died… and it would have been my fault… I don't deserve to ever be a leader… this is the second time people have wound up almost dying because of me… What am I even doing here? Why am I even a shinobi? What good am I if all I do is get people killed?"

These questions plague my mind as I lay in a hospital bed. In the background, I can hear the distinct sound of the Heart Monitor beeping in the background and the gentle wind blowing through my room. I know I'm conscious, in a lot of physical pain, but conscious. I keep my eyes close. Thinking that, as long as they're close then I don't have to face my failures. Pain from my antlers' seasonal growth doesn't help the situation either. Everything ringing true about my inability to become the leader Asuma wanted me to be keeps me awake and dreadful of the future.

"Do you plan on laying there, pretending to be sleep all day?" a familiar voice calls out. I crack my right eye open enough to see Kurenai-sensei sitting in a chair besides me, knitting something together. "Now, you're just insulting me," she smiles.

I close both my eyes and sigh. "What are you doing here?"

"I can't check on my technical son? Now I'm really offended,"

"You know what I mean,"

"Well, after I checked on Asuma and your other teammates, I'd figure I'd sit with you until you woke up,"

I open my eyes and look at her in a serious way. "How is Asuma?"

She stops knitting and puts it down with a heavy sigh. "He's still in ICU. I've talked to Lady Tsunade, he survived through surgery but he's not out of the woods yet. She says that he's going to require a lot of care and observation for at least a few months. He might even need more surgeries. At the very least, he's alive. Thank you, Shikamaru. Thank you for saving him,"

I turn my gaze towards the ceiling with a sad look. "Why are you thanking me? You should be thanking Naruto. If it wasn't for his team, we would all be dead,"

"I did already. He told me to thank you,"

Hearing her words makes me sit up in surprise and anger. "Why is he telling you to thank me?! I didn't do anything! In fact, I almost got everyone killed! How am I worth of any kind of thanks?!"

I feel my hands clench into fists. Disappointment an anger fills my body. I only calm down when I feel Kurenai's soft hands touch mine. I look to her, a smile on her lips while small tears form in the corners of my eyes.

"You may not think for feel it, but you're just as much of a hero in this as everyone else. I know that mission was not what you were expecting. From what I heard, they were really experienced, powerful opponents. There was no way you could have predicted their every movements or even a victory. Honestly, and I think Asuma will agree with me when he wakes up, had you not been there, they would have all died. Take pride in that, Shikamaru. Could thing have gone differently? Yes. However, you did what you could to protect your teammates. There is no shame in retreat or a loss, even if it ends in death,"

I look back at my unclenched hands, still feeling disappointment in myself.

"What would you have done or said if I came to you saying that I was the reason for Asuma's death?"

"Well, since Asuma isn't dead, I would slap you for playing a cruel joke on me. But, since that isn't the case, I would hug you. Shikamaru, you are honestly too hard on yourself. No one; not even the Hokages could save everyone in every situation. Sometimes, people do die and that's natural when you go up against a dangerous set of opponents. That is the number one thing I know you were taught when you first attended the Academy. As shinobi, our lives no longer belong to us. They belong to the Hokage and the Hidden Leaf Village. That means that you will always lay your life on the line when needed. It also means that you'll face victories, defeats, and possibly death. It is the way of the Shinobi. This, despite what you think, was a victory. Take it for what it is. Sure, Asuma is in the ICU, your teammates and you wound up in the hospital, but at least you are all alive. And you are all alive because of your wit and great mind, Shikamaru. So, stop being so hard on yourself. You're doing great," she finishes with a bright smile.

I chuckle a little as I place a hand on top of hers. "Thank you, Kurenai-sensei,"

She nods before leaning back in her chair and picking up her knitting set.

"Besides, how is your niece or nephew going to learn from their uncle when you're busy mopping all the time,"

I give her a confusing look before the meaning of her words dawn on me. I almost jump out of bed from the sudden announcement.

"Kurenai-sensei… you're…"

"Pregnant? Why yes I am. Ten weeks to be precise,"

"Does Asuma know?"

"Not yet. I only found out right before you left,"

"Why didn't you tell him before we left?"

"I didn't get a chance to. With all of this Akatsuki business, we Jōnin don't really have a lot of time to socialize. In fact, before you guys went on this mission, Asuma and I haven't really seen each other in a little over a month. So, I was going to try and tell him when you guys returned,"

I nod lightly with a small smile. "So, I'm the first one to know?"

"You and Lady Tsunade,"

"And I get to be an uncle, huh?"

"If you so choose to accept the title, than yes,"

"I do accept. Thank you for giving me the kick in the ass I needed,"

"Well, I knew that with Asuma and Ino recovering, you were going to need it. Are you hungry?"

I was about to say 'no' but my stomach growls instead. "Yeah, I guess I can eat,"

"Here, I'll get you some food from the cafeteria," she says while getting up and heading to the door. "Don't go anywhere," I nod before leaning back onto the bed. "Shikamaru, you have a visitor,"

I look over to the door in confusion. Temari walks into my room and I sit up to greet her.

"Hey," I say first.

"Hey yourself," she answers back with a smile.

I move over so she has somewhere to sit. She removes her fan to lean it against the wall before sitting next to me on the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"In a lot of pain, but healing nicely, I think,"

She gives me a once over before leaning in with a chuckle. "You look like shit,"

"Gee, thanks woman. Why are you here?"

"I got a message from Lady Tsunade. She figured you would like some company while you heal,"

"So she sent you? She must not know who you are," I say, chuckling. "Ouch,. You shouldn't hit an injured person,"

"Oh shut up. You're obviously healed enough to be making jokes. I guess you don't need me after all,"

She gets up with a huff, but I grab onto her wrist and force her back down. "Sit down and shut up. Admit it, you came here because you were worried about me,"

Her cheeks blush as she turns away and folds her arms. "Worried about you? Please, you're the only person I know that can face a powerful opponent and still make it out alive. There's no need for me to ever worry about you,"

"Is that a compliment I hear? Wow, Temari, I'd never thought I'd see the day," I say, laughing harder.

"Ok, ok. That's enough. Don't get a big head over this. You act like people don't already know that you're a great shinobi,"

I stop laughing in favor of leaning back a little bit with a serious face. "I do know that. And it would seem I'm the only one who doesn't feel the same," She goes to open her mouth, but I stop her. "Don't worry, Kurenai already gave me the ego boasting speech,"

"Then how can you still feel that way? You even felt this way when Gaara, Kankuro, and I rescued you guys all those years ago. Are you going to go through this depression after each defeat?"

"… I don't know… As a shinobi, I know that death is a great possibility, especially with the Akatsuki on the rise. However, I still do not believe that I am the great leader others look to me as. How can I feel like a great leader when almost everyone I lead almost dies?"

"It comes with the territory, hun. Trust when I say that there are plenty of great leaders who have lost their entire squad. That doesn't make them a lesser leader. It just means that they faced a stronger opponent. Death is inevitable for everyone. There is no escaping it. And, in times of war, it is used as a lesson. No matter how you shape this, this battle was a victory because you and your squad survived. But, it also a defeat because you didn't complete it. Use this as a way to better yourself. From what we know, there is still one of the two-man squad you faced still alive, right? So use what you've learned from that fight for when you go up against him again. There is no use on dwelling. Now is the time to focus on being better so that you don't have to suffer another loss,"

Listening to what she was saying gave me more inspiration to formulate a better plan. I place a hand on top of hers with a smile.

"Thank you,"

She nods as she grips my hand tighter. We sit in silence for a little bit before either of us speak again. I don't know how much time passes, but I feel myself getting tired. I get into a more comfortable position and allow myself to starting to drift off. Before I actually fall asleep, I swear I feel Temari place a kiss on my cheek while one of her hands plays in my hair.

"What am I going to do with you?"

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To Be Continued…