Temari's trip back to Suna was spent in a daze. Between leaving Shikamaru at that park and waiting for Gaara at the inn so they could leave together, she only remember feeling relieved to finally leave when her brother had arrived. Konoha had suddenly become a place full of memory for her. Two days on the road had been a blur, she hadn't spoken to Gaara beyond necessary. She'd kept to herself throughout the trip. Gaara, thankfully, hadn't commented on her quiet demeanour.
Her mind full of questions and anger. Feelings of betrayal kept swirling in her brain. She kept wondering where they'd gone wrong. Well, she knew exactly where she'd gone wrong. Temari usually hated dwelling on regrets and past mistakes, but she knew she wouldn't be able to avoid it for awhile. She couldn't help but think that Shikamaru had been waiting for some missteps from her in order to call it quits with her and she'd given him the perfect excuse.
Was she no longer good enough for him? Why couldn't he just have come looked for her the moment she'd left Konoha? If they hadn't broken up, would he still have ended up sleeping with someone else? And that brought another question to mind, who was the girl that made him unwilling to fight for their relationship? Shikamaru had never shown to have an interest in any other girl, not even a hint. Even though she lived far away and they hardly saw each other she was sure that she'd have noticed if he was losing interest in her. She hadn't seen any signs of it from him.
What kind of girl would be able to hold Shikamaru's attention? Was she a kunoichi just like Temari or a civilian? She remembered him often telling her, when they were still genin and the truce between their countries still fragile, that he'd prefer to have an "ordinary civilian" has a girlfriend. Was the girl prettier than Temari?
Two days later, laying on her bed and staring at her bedroom ceiling, those questions still haunted her.
She hated Shikamaru for doing this to her. To them. Except they weren't a "them" anymore now they were just him and her. What would people say? What would she tell her brothers? Most importantly what would the council make of this? Would she be expected to get married to a stranger now?
Her eyesight blurred as tears filled her jade-coloured eyes. Her nose itched from trying to hold herself from bawling her eyes out. He wasn't worth any tears from her. Three years worth of nothing between them. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, she swiped at her face in frustration.
She wouldn't let herself cry over this! She was strong, she could easily overcome this. Shikamaru was just an asshole who didn't deserve her anyway. Temari groaned, turning into her pilly when a tear slipped past, then another and another.
Sniffling, "what the hell?" She mumbled, her voice muffled.
Temari hated Shikamaru so much right now. But worst was, she hated herself more for still loving him. She knew if he came right now, begged her to take him back, she would in a heartbeat. What does that make her?
She heard a knock at the door before a click of the door opening. With a flick of her hand, she sent a wind blast so hard she was surprised the door didn't come off its hinges as it banged shut against the doorframe.
She heard a muffled curse behind the door before another knock sounded. She kept her hand up in case she needed to send another blast, but the person behind the door didn't bother opening it again.
"Temari?" Her other brother, Kankouro, called, "Temari, let me in."
Temari blinked blankly as she studied the mess the wind blast had caused in her room. Clothes, papers and even make-up laid on the floor. She hated having a mess around her, but right now she had more things that occupied her mind. Shikamaru hated messes too, he'd told her that was the main reason he didn't have much in his apartment except for the bare necessities. The other reason was because he couldn't be bothered filling a place he hardly spent time in. Well, his exact words were: "it's too troublesome, if I needed anything I'd rather use the ones at home". Temari smiled at the memory, years living on his own and he still called his parents' place home. Her smiled dropped a moment later, knowing those are things about Shikamaru she knew and cherished, but will no longer share with him. Her lips quivered slightly another drop of tear slid down her cheek.
"Temari, please talk to me," Kankouro knocked insistently, "I won't leave until you do, so get ready to listen to me bang on your door all night."
Temari's eyes slid to the shut curtain above the window frame. She'd gotten it from Shikamaru's mother on their first anniversary with her son, Shikamaru had forgotten about the date, she had forgotten about the date, but not Yoshino. She had made a nice dinner for the couple, making the food more memorable than the date itself. Another thing she would never experience. His mother had treated Temari like her own child. Both women used to team up to nag Shikamaru which used to drive the man crazy.
What did Yoshino have to say about her son ending things with Temari? Did she see it coming? Or was she just as blindsided as Temari had been? Did she know about Shikamaru's new lover? Was she treating the new girl like her own daughter, like she'd always treated Temari?
"If you don't let me in, Temari, I swear I will go and bring Gaara here," Kankouro threatened, if Temari wasn't so depressed she'd have rolled her eyes at the empty threat. Kankouro was too much of a coward to go and disturb Gaara from his work at the office. Maybe realising how empty his threat sounded to his own ears, he grudgingly said, "well, I might just inform him when he returns."
When he still didn't receive any answer, he tried the door handle again, and before he could get even an inch open, Temari sent another blast.
"Fine!" She heard frustration in his voice, "wallow in self-pity all you want, see if I care."
Temari held her breath, hoping that she'd finally be able to "wallow in self-pity" in peace, but her brother's chakra presence had yet to disappear from behind her door.
There was a moment of silence before scratches sounded on the wood of the door.
"Sorry, buddy," Kankouro's voice sounded exaggeratedly sad, "she doesn't want to see you either," there was more scratching, then, "sucks, doesn't it? I know how you feel I'm hardly as cute and fluffy as you but I still feel like rejected goods." A meow was his response.
Temari laid in bed for a few more seconds before letting out a resigned sigh. Sitting up, she wiped the tears from her cheeks. She walked over to the door, opening it just enough to let the little feline in, then she quickly closed it again.
She sank on the floor against the door, gathering the little white fluffy kitten she'd gotten from Gaara for her birthday in one arms, the other one stroking the cat. The sound of purring was enough to relax her, if not to temporarily make her forget about her heartbreak.
"Hey, Temari," Kankouro said, his voice sounded next to her ears despite the door separating them, as if he'd taken station on the floor like her. "You remember when I was seven at the academy, you found me sitting on the floor and crying behind the building. When you asked me why was crying I told you that the instructor asked us to bring a parent for Skill-show Day. Even back then I knew if I'd ask father, he'd have brushed me aside for other more important matters, so I just cut my losses and cried over my sorry ass life." He let out a little laugh, "man, I was such a pitiful child, uh? Good thing I've grown to be strong and confident now, not to mention dashing, Gaara doesn't even stand a chance!"
Temari almost snorted at that, any other day she would have pointed out that he was still that pitiful child most of the time and that the only reason Gaara didn't stand a chance was because he was the Kazekage, people tended to be intimidated by him. Especially women.
"Anywayyys," Kankouro dragged the word sounding a little Petulant, as if he heard her thoughts, "I remember you pulled me up, you had on this scary serious face that you always get when you're about to get into deep shit and anyone thinking of stopping you should dig themselves a grave."
This time Temari really snorted, albeit softy. Her brother must have heard because the next time he spoke, he sounded like he was grinning.
"With a hand on my shoulder, I remember you telling me as clear as day: "don't worry, Kankouro, you will get your parent next week". When the day arrived, I remember I wasn't nervous or scared, even when my classmates started laughing because nobody had arrived yet. For some reason even back then I had believed in you. So when you finally showed up all dirty and winded, I felt like the proudest shit in that classroom."
Temari swallowed, her eyes misting a little, this time for a completely different reason. She remembered running to the academy, afraid she wouldn't make it in time. Her torn clothes the least of her worries, a huge feat considering she hated being dirty as much as she hated messes, even back then. Thankfully, the instructor had allowed her to participate in lieu of their father without too much trouble. The moment she'd entered the classroom, afraid to see Kankouro's disappointed face at not seeing their father, but Kankouro had stood up from his desk pointing his finger at her and shouted to the whole class, "that's my sister y'all and she's the best parent anyone could ask for!". It was like a balm to all her sore tiny muscles and exhausted mind. All her nerves had completely disappeared by the time it was her turn for the Skill-show, her little brother's confidence in her rubbing on her. The skill she'd shown had been what was now her signature jutsu, albeit with a small fan and less chakra power behind it but still impressive for a nine years old. The best part was she'd only learn and mastered it in a week! Even her father had been surprised when he'd heard about it. The thought of her father brought a melancholic smile on her lips.
"There's something I've never told you about the week leading to that day," Kankouro was saying, "I remember when we returned home I was so excited and anxious I secretly followed you when you went to speak to dad, his response had been, if I remember correctly, "we're at a crucial time in which the jinchuriki can lose control of the one tail demon, I do not have time for trivial matter like Skill-show, tell your brother to bring his puppets if he'd like." Aw man, the man was a real bastard." Kankouro snorted, "I thought that was it, but then I saw you head for the training terrain, and you were practicing. At first, I didn't know why or what you were practicing, but as I followed you each night you sneaked out, watching you practice relentlessly with that same scary expression.
"I just knew it was for me. And that was why I wasn't worried if you'd show or not on Show Day. To me, you practicing on your own for days just to attend a stupid show that was more for gossip than real grading, was the coolest thing anyone's ever done. Everyone's jutsu and skills had paled in my eyes compare to yours. My sister, the only real parent I've ever had."
Temari closed her eyes, warmth spreading through her body, just like on that day, she could feel his words soothing her like a balm to her soul.
She heard him stand up, she could almost imagine his face looking concern as he stared at the closed door between them.
There was a sigh, "I know things are shit right now and you're probably feeling helpless. Just don't forget how strong you are…and I want you to let me know if you need any help. Even if it's to beat that loser Shikamaru." There was a slight pause and another sigh, before she heard retreating footsteps.
Temari let out a shuddering breath, the tears falling relentlessly now. Kankouro was right, she was strong, she could get through this. This was nothing compared to everything else she'd been through, just a little heartbreak, no big deal. She would get over it like a little sore, it would heal eventually. She would heal.
But for now, she can be weak. She would give herself Just today to grieve over what was lost, and how her future had become so rocky. With no Shikamaru to save her from the council's machinations, she didn't know where that left her. Sitting on the floor alone with her cat in her arms, and crying pathetically like a child, she couldn't help but wonder who she'd pissed to be having such the past shitty two months.
…
Naruto was in a better mood lately. Not because she had suddenly acquire a love for her situation, because she hadn't. She'd just decided to accept her fate and move on, because worrying about it was obviously not changing anything. She was still pregnant every morning when she woke up. And yes, she still had a 'holy shit' moment each time she glanced at her stomach and realised that, at that moment her body was developing a person with her DNA. A living breathing person.
Holy shit!
Of course, Naruto was still cramping from hunger occasionally, and her gut was still rebelling when it didn't approve of her choice of food. She was getting used to it though. Sort of.
Since her talk with Shikamaru and what came afterwards, it was as if some kind of weight had been lifted from her. There was still some uncertainties to her future, of course, but for now the thought of having someone help her through this scary new journey was enough to ease her mind. Admittedly, that person being Shikamaru was even more relieving.
Speaking of Shikamaru, she hadn't seen him for the past three days. Not since the group lunch when he'd left with Temari, she hadn't heard anything from him except for a note slipped under her apartment door while she must have been in the shower the next day. Well, at least she assumed it was him. The note said:
Got a mission, will see you when I return.
P.S don't neglect your health in my absence.
That last part had left her a little miffed. As if he thought she'd stop eating just because he was absent. She'd been taking care of herself her whole life, dammit!
Anyways, the note had been the last time she'd heard from him. A part of her wondered if he'd left to go with Temari, maybe the reason she hadn't seen him was because he and the sand kunoichi had made up. Naruto pushed that thought aside; the emotion that felt suspiciously like jealousy must be in her imagination. She didn't need that kind of negative feelings right now. She was trying to meditate.
Naruto took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of nature surrounding her. She emptied her mind of all thoughts. With her eyes closed, her ears was now attuned to her surroundings. The sounds of birds, wind, and water running from a lake a few metres from the tree she was sitting, cross-legged, on one of the huge branches. She blocked them too. Focusing more on the feeling of her surroundings.
Breath evening out, eyes closed, she concentrated on connecting herself to the nature around her. Soon enough, she could feel her mind lifting, taking her to that inner peace she'd been craving for days. A few seconds later she felt all her thoughts emptying, her mind pleasantly blank. Nature chakra enveloped her. She could almost see it through her mind's eye. Her own chakra responded by drawing it into her, almost greedily. A moment later, she felt the connection complete. She was completely attuned to her surroundings for miles. She could feel the living energy of the animals surrounding her.
On the ground, a few feet from where a tree stood she sensed a couple of squirrels scurrying up a neighbourhood tree. Naruto stretched her senses as far as the forest went, taking comfort in the natural life surrounding her.
Minutes later, she decided to make an inventory inside her mind, just to check on the state of her chakra. The imbalance in her chakra was making her control shitty, she might not know much about pregnancy but even she knew that it was too early for her to be having problems with her chakra.
She focused her attention inwards, on her chakra path way. Mixed in with nature energy, it seemed stable enough. Chakra was running smoothly inside her body, from her heart to her head; she followed it down to her stomach. She could sense Kurama's powerful presence where the modify seal on her stomach was. Naruto focused on their merged chakra, seeing nothing unusual, except…her own chakra path seemed to be drawing the fox's power a tad faster than normal. Naruto concentrated further, she mentally raised her eyebrows when she felt another source on her abdomen. It was drawing on her chakra at an alarming speed, hence the reason her own body was trying to keep up by replenishing her reserves with the biju's chakra.
What the hell?
Naruto quickly pulled herself into her subconscious, blinking as she found herself back in her…apartment?
"Hm," She looked around herself in curiosity, she was used to her subconscious changing settings since she and the fox had stopped fighting about dominance of her body and mind, but it had never taken a more realistic setting like this one. Especially her crappy apartment.
She wondered if this was Kurama's idea of a joke.
"I had nothing to do with it." The fox's voice sounded, growling and a little miffed.
Naruto looked around her but found the place empty."Where the hell are you?"
"Outside."
Naruto walked over to the front door of her "apartment" to open it, but there was no door handle on it. "Kurama? What the hell is going on?"
There was a pause and then a sigh, "you happened. You're blocking my presence from entering."
Naruto frowned, touching the wooden door. She could feel the Kyuubi's presence just behind it. "What? Why? Are you okay? I sensed an unusual chakra presence." She looked around her again, seeing nothing strange in the replica of her home.
There was a snort, "I assume it's the offspring? You're somehow protecting it from me." Kurama said, sounding a little put off by the thought.
"Hm, I'm sorry?" She said a little confused, "wait, did you say offspring?" Naruto boggled, looking around. Nervously, she whispered. "I-is it h-here?"
There was no response from the fox, so Naruto huffed before hesitantly walking to the kitchen. She didn't know why she felt suddenly nervous. Her pregnancy was in an early stage so it wasn't like she was going to see a real baby. She knew that. But the thought of having another being sharing her subconscious other than Kurama was still a process that she still needed to digest.
Naruto glanced at where her sofa was, but there was nothing. She let out a breath, before literally pinching herself for being dumb. She walked to the kitchen side of the room, checking in all the cabinets as if she'd find an embryo in any of them. She took a deep breath, knowing she was just stalling, she knew exactly where the offspring was. Naruto licked her lips, before moving to the door she'd been avoiding to look at since she got here.
Her bedroom.
Naruto stood in front of the door for who knows how long. Just staring at it. Like the front door, this one had no door handle either. She couldn't see what was inside. She didn't know if that disappointed or relieved her.
She reached over to touch the door before quickly changing her mind. There was so much warmth coming from behind the door, she felt a sense of rightness just standing there.
Naruto fisted her hand over her chest when she felt a small tug.
"So this is it, uh," She said softly, "it's really happening."
"Indeed."
Her brow furrowed slightly, "how come this place looks like my apartment? And how can I keep you out if we share the same subconscious?"
"For the hundredth time, we don't share the same subconscious," was the exasperated response.
Naruto huffed, "you can hear my thoughts, feel my emotions, share my stomach and my chakra. What does that sound like to you?"
"Don't forget that I'm sealed into that stomach of yours, our Chakra are connected but we are still two separate entity. My will is still my own and vice versa," Kurama said in a tone that sounded like he was repeating something he'd said more times than he can count, "I cannot tamper with your mind unless you allow me to. The reason I'm blocked out is probably because subconsciously you're trying to protect your kit."
Naruto wrinkled her nose, looking at the door again, "from you? That doesn't make sense, I mean we're friends."
"Everyday I wonder what I'd ever done to get saddle with a dead-brained wit like you."
Naruto turned to glare in the direction of the voice, hating that the kyuubi couldn't see it. "It's a legit question, no need to be so uppity about it."
This time she could feel the eye roll. Naruto scowled, crossing her arms over her chest. The fox was just being rude.
"Naruto, your apartment is your safe place isn't it?"
"I guess," Naruto wouldn't actually say it was her "safe" place, not with the kind of maintenance this place needed, but she could admit that this place was the first thing in mind when she needed a pause from the real world.
"Right," Kurama said in a really patronizing voice, "so wouldn't it make sense that if you had to protect something precious from the influence of a mass demon chakra with negative emotions it would be in a place you felt safe yourself?"
Naruto nodded slowly, looking around her apartment in wonder, it did make sense that her subconscious would want to protect the little one, even if Naruto herself didn't think of it. After all, most of our actions are more subconscious than the other way around. it was called instincts. And Naruto's instinct to protect the developing womb, even though she was still in the half stage of denials, made perfect sense. Even she knew about a mother's natural instinct. It was just mind-boggling to think that she'd already acquired it. Great.
"I would have thought you would be ecstatic about being a mother considering your orphan status from childhood."
Naruto walked back to go sit on the couch, drawing her legs to her chest. "I wanted to have a mother not be one."
"Often those that had been raised with no family want to create family of their own. Is it not what you have been doing since your Academy days?" The Kyuubi's voice, and weirdly curious, "what difference would it make if they came from your own flesh?"
Naruto hugged her legs, frowning a little, "I guess it doesn't make any. I just thought I would need to worry about these things way later, I mean I'm still nineteen," she laughed a little dryly, "I can barely look after myself, what would I do with a child?"
There was a loud dark growl, Naruto thought for a moment the fox would break the apartment door. "Stop your whining and snivelling, you little mucus, you made your bed so now lie in it. Otherwise I will eat the offspring if you don't want it."
Naruto jumped up from the couch in indignation and anger. "Are you crazy? I will not let you do that, you stay away from what's mine!" she growled, and then a moment later the walls around the apartment turned metal, the door as well with an extra barricades locked into place.
A moment later, she felt the fox's amusement and she realised she'd been had. "So you do know what to do with a child after all. Protect it and care for it, that is a mother's basic instinct, the rest you will learn."
Naruto grumbled something under her breath, before sighing and dropping back down on the couch. "I guess this is really happening, uh?"
"I thought that was the obvious conclusion the moment you checked your calendar. Don't tell me you were still in denial?" If sarcasm had a form, Naruto was sure it would look like that damn fox.
She ignored him, instead thinking of what was her now complicated future. She couldn't hide this forever even if she wanted to. She needed to at least tell the Hokage; especially, if she still wanted to be Hokage one day (and Naruto really did want to be hokage more than anything in the world). But the idea of being discredited just because she was pregnant, made her really hesitant about revealing it. The Hokage might not make it a big deal (probably), but the council was sure to use this as a reason not to nominate her as candidate. They had been saying how her immaturity, lack of discipline, and tendency to be careless made her unfit for the title; her unplanned pregnancy would be all the proof they needed.
She was a single nineteen years old girl expecting a baby; the council was going to have a field day with this. The lack of father for the child would be so glaringly obvious, she could already imagine them shaking their heads.
Except, the father was present. Shikamaru was the father; he would help her figure everything out. She didn't have to be alone in this.
Naruto took a deep breath, before releasing it. She opened her eyes to find herself back in the forest; she felt her determination renewed as a soft breeze blew around her. There was nothing she can do about being pregnant now, but there was one thing she could do about the council. Prove them that pregnancy was not enough to stop her from reaching her goal, and if anyone tried to use it as an excuse to stop her…well, Naruto better not be held liable for what would happen.
A moment a later, Naruto frowned, feeling like she was forgetting something.
….
Naruto's memory came back when she was practicing her seal with Kakashi-sensei. They'd been trying to get her latest Flash tag to work, but her chakra wasn't cooperating. They've been trying for more than fifteen minutes now, and still no success. All she'd managed to accomplish was a few sparks. Naruto could feel the exhaustion creeping out on her as well as her temper flaring.
All because the little leech was eating at her reserves.
Naruto cursed under her breath, brushing the strands of hair from her face in frustration as she looked down at the seal with consternation. She could feel, her Sensei's intense gaze above her, studying her. Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she focused in connecting to her chakra; it was there, running perfectly fine, but when she tried to draw it out and onto the seal paper, nothing happened. Not even a hint. Naruto growled in frustration, her fist clenching on the grass she was kneeling on.
"I think, we should give it a rest for today." Kakashi-sensei said, his voice a lazy droll.
Naruto shook her head forcefully, "I'm not giving up yet." Plus, she wasn't ready to answer the question he would inevitably ask her. Seeing her struggle at drawing chakra must be more than a little alarming. She hadn't struggled with control over her chakra since she was a genin. Right now, she was afraid he would be able to guess the reason behind it. The man was smart as they come.
Taking another deep breath, she silently begged, come on, just one last time. She tried to draw on her chakra again, this time drawing on the Kuruma's Chakra as well.
"Naruto, stop."
Naruto ignored him; she could feel the power brimming inside her, she focused on drawing it to her hand on the paper. A moment later, she felt it work. Except, she overdid it; she drew in more than the needed amount on the seal, and the seal sparked then caught fire.
It fucking caught fire!
Naruto just stared at the seal until it turned into a charred mess. Her mind curiously blank.
A hand on her shoulder made her look up at the concerning gaze of her teacher.
"Are you okay, Naruto?" His voice was so warm and welcoming. She could just tell him everything. He wouldn't judge her, in fact she was sure he would help her.
She opened her mouth to speak, but to her mortification she burst in to tears. Kakashi jumped away from her in alarm; Naruto would have laughed at the panic in his visible eye if she wasn't bowling her own eyes out.
"Naruto, what's going on?" He asked, reaching over to help her stand up.
Naruto sidestepped his reach, too embarrassed at her predicament to let him touch her. She quickly scramble to stand up, wanting to get out of there before she embarrassed herself further, she used a teleportation jutsu to take her back to her apartment.
She was just appearing in the middle of her bedroom when she heard a knock at her front door.
A flare of a familiar Chakra made her chest expand, she quickly left her room to open the front door. A sudden wave of anger assaulted her as she saw the smiling handsome face of Shikamaru.
"Naruto I- hey, what's wrong?" Shikamaru quickly stepped forward, gripping her shoulders as his eyes raked over her body for injuries. Finding none, his eyes met hers. His brows was furrowed in concern, as he wiped tears from her cheeks. "What happened?"
And just like that Naruto's anger and frustration just faded away, leaving her exhausted. She stepped forward and hugged him, realising that she was just happy to see him.
Shikamaru didn't hesitate to return the hug, almost as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Naruto sniffed in his chest, not caring how pathetic a state she must be. He must have just returned from his mission because he smelt of sweat, dirt and a little of blood as well. But instead of being put off by that, it just warmed her heart even further because it meant he came straight to her. He made her his first priority.
She felt his fingers run through her messy hair, the action relaxed her.
"Tell me what happened." He said after a few minutes. He pulled away to look at her, his eyes still roaming over her body to check for injuries.
Naruto shook her head, but instead of answering she grabbed his face and kissed him.
Shikamaru pulled away after a moment, "wait, Naruto, wha-"
Naruto shook her head, pulling him back towards her again. "I don't want to talk about it."
"But-"
Naruto captured his lips, biting softly. Her hands were already busy unzipping his jounin vest. "No talking, at least not now," she looked up at him, her hands now on his belt. She blinked up at him, biting her look lip. "Please?"
Shikamaru stopped her hands from unzipping his pants, studying her intently. A few seconds later, he huffed softly, "okay, but let's close the door first. No need to give some old lady a heart-attack."
Naruto glanced behind him, and blinked when she saw that her apartment door was still ajar. She hadn't even noticed. "Oh. Right."
Shikamaru chuckled, pushing the door closed with his foot. He then raised his eyebrows at her. "So what did you have in mind?"
Naruto smirked, before slowly lowering herself on the floor in front of him.
Shikamaru's eyes widened and he gripped the wall next to him, which Naruto thought was smart of him. He would definitely need help to keep himself up.
…
Yoshino poured a cup of tea for her visitors, pushing the tray of cookies towards them. She then sat down across from them over the coffee table.
"I would like to thank you for agreeing to meet with us." Satoshi one of the clan elders said, taking a sip from his cup.
Yoshino inclined her head, "I couldn't say no, especially to an important subject such as my son's future." She gave a tight smile, "speaking of which, I would like to know what this is about if you please."
"I see Yoshino-san doesn't waste any time," Satoshi cleared his throat, waving a hand towards the young man next to him, "this is my nephew, you probably know of him already, his name is Seiji."
The so called Seiji Nara bowed his head, "it's a pleasure to meet with you Yoshino-san, please forgive our intrusion."
Yoshino nodded at the polite young man, "I think I might have heard a word or two about him."
In fact just last week, Yoshino's gossip buddy hadn't stopped gushing about the young handsome Satoshi. He was a couple of years older than her own Shikamaru. He was a shinobi as well, respected among his colleagues outside as well as inside the clan. With his good looks, good manners and respected background he's very popular among the ladies. Yoshino tried to think of the reason why the elder Satoshi would come with him to meet with her. Whatever it was, she had a feeling it wouldn't please her.
"The reason we have come here is because of the issue regarding the future clan-head." Satoshi said, his dark eyes watching her intently. "The other elders and I are concerned about the position being empty for so long. For that we are thinking up temporary measures."
Yoshino made sure there was no outward expression on her, inwardly, she was seething. She had a feeling she knew where this was going. Glaring, she said, "there is no "issue" regarding my son's title to discuss, my son will be clan-head as is his right."
Satoshi inclined his head slightly, "it is his right. Nobody is refuting this, but the boy doesn't seem to want it. Which shows a lack of responsibility in your son." His lips curled in a slight sneer, "Perhaps your son's title should be given to someone more worthy of it, it's the least our clansmen deserve."
Yoshino grinded her teeth hard, keeping herself from exploding or worse, punching the prick. She jerked her head to the younger man sitting with a worried frown on his face, "I assume he's the candidate more worthy than the late clan leader's own legacy?"
Satoshi narrowed his eyes, "my nephew has all the qualifications to make a good leader, despite being a Nara, he doesn't slack off on his responsibilities."
Yoshino's hands clenched on her knees, "neither does my son."
Satoshi's bushy white brow rose sarcastically, "really? Then where is he right now?"
Yoshino open her mouth to give a scathing answer but Seiji intervened.
"Uncle, please, Yoshino-san has taken her time to meet us on her schedule." He said with a disapproving frown at his relative, he then inclined his head towards Yoshino in apology, "we understand, how hard this must be for you," Seiji spoke up, his voice a soft baritone, his face as calm and diplomatic.
He only showed an honest expression. "We don't mean any disrespect to your late husband or yourself. I'm sure this is as frustrating to you as it is to us. It's been three years already, nobody is leading our clan. As laid-back as our people are, they still need structure and order. They need somebody to lead them, someone that would care for their financial stability. The hokage cannot do that job, she already has the village and clan-less shinobi to worry about. I know for a fact your son is helping her with that, but what about his own people? Who is going to take care of them? The elders are trying but it's hard when all of them wants to rule. At least if a person is appointed we can avoid an outright rebellion. I'm sure you understand."
Yoshino bit her tongue hard enough to draw blood. As frustrating as this was, the kid was right. Their clan needed a leader. She took a deep breath, before releasing it, "you're right, and I apologize in my son's behalf. I just…I'd like to ask you give him a little more time."
Satoshi's top lip curled slightly, "we have given him time, three years is long enough for anyone to stop crying over something that has passed. Your son needs to move on or see some professional."
"Uncle!" Seiji hissed softly, he was about to apologize again but Yoshino shook her head.
She clenched her fists hard, focusing on the pain and not the anger that was simmering under her skin. "Once again I apologize on behalf of my son. The war is hard on people, it messes up with even the best of us. I apologize that my son came out of it a little different, and time that seem to heal whatever mental wound he'd acquired over the death of his father and all his comrades. I know for a fact that all wounds doesn't heal with time," she swallowed heavily forcing herself not to look in the direction where the room with her late husband's shrine was, "I'm sorry for asking of you to understand, since you've never fought anything other than what your power allows you to."
There was a moment of awkward silence as the two men avoided to look at her in the eyes.
Yoshino smiled sardonically, before getting up. She waited as they got up as well before dipping her head slightly, and they bowed in return. Despite her husband's death, she was still their late clan-leader's wife. "Please give me a week, I will speak to my son regarding your concerns and make him understand his choices."
Satoshi didn't seem happy but nodded nonetheless. Seiji on the other hand frowned. "What if you can't convinced your son to take the mantle?"
Yoshino's face grew hard and determined. "Then I will take upon the responsibilities of my husband temporarily until my son is ready." She watched with satisfaction their varying expression of shock and displeasure. She raised an eyebrow, "It is not forbidden for a wife to take the mantle after her husband has passed, and as I said, it will only be temporarily."
"You have no experience with politics, there is no way the other elders will stand for it." Satoshi immediately protested.
Yoshino waved her hand elegantly in dismissal, "I came from a noble family, I was then a shinobi for most of my life and don't forget I married a clan-head, there's nothing about politics that I don't understand. If the elders won't approve then I will seek the hokage's seal of approval if I have to."
Seiji gaped for a moment before shaking his head, his lips forming a small smile. His next tone sounded a little impressed. "Then I guess, we've outstayed our welcome. We'll be sure to inform the clan elders about what you've informed us." He looked to his disgruntled Uncle then nodded, "let's go, Uncle."
A moment later, yoshino heard the door click shut behind the two men. She quickly slumped back on the floor, she served herself tea and sipping it with somewhat shaky hands.
"Fuck." What the hell did she commit herself to.
Hello, everyone! I hope there are still readers looking forward to my story. Unfortunately this is a short chapter, but I promise you the next one will be longer and more eventful. I thank you for the continuous support from you guys even though I sometimes feel undeserving. Your reviews are what keeps me writing. Stay safe and healthy.