Shikamaru Shinden Chapter 20

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CHAPTER 20

Naruto was reading aloud a manuscript on the TV screen, which was Temari was watching at home alone.

“Our desire to share information with the other Hidden Villages is to correct the imbalance that we’ve created. As a starting point, Konohagakure will release its confidential information to promote an informational exchange. We want to create a world were ninjutsu is used peacefully and shinobi tech can be used by everyone. Shinobi can exist even when there is no war,”

Naruto raised his face from the script and took in a deep breath.

“I declare this as the Hokage,” he added.

Temari sat on her knees, alert. The venue had been visible just earlier and her two brothers, who were representing Sunagakure, had been standing for Naruto. It warmed her heart.

However, one crucial person was missing.

Shikamaru was not with the Konohagakure representatives.

‘My work is done here, it’s too troublesome to be in this place any longer,’ she imagined her husband saying that.

“We must never bring war back to this world, ask anyone that. Representatives, we must make the right choice,”

Naruto bowed so deeply he nearly bumped his head on the podium. Temari saw the nobility in him. Even for a Hokage, it was a dignified speech. The shadow of her husband was in that speech. Naruto, Konoha, no, even the world. It was in safe hands.

Shikamaru wanted that peace more than anyone. Shikamaru knew that one day, shinobi would no longer be needed. In order for people to lead easy lives, be able to relax, and have a leisurely death.

That is what Shikamaru wanted.

Sometimes, she would reflect on that. She sometimes thought that she was the one who had robbed Shikamaru of his dream. He’d told her of how he wished for a calm life. She knew that he would go to the front lines for her and Shikadai. In an odd way, it made her heart skip a beat.

Temari was a shinobi. She’d been hostile to Naruto and Shikamaru in the past. Living as a Suna shinobi, she’d married a Konoha ninja.

But she was still Temari, still a shinobi. That was what the Shinobi in her heart felt, and what she’d sought for Shikamaru and Shikadai.

Her husband was the kindest man she knew. For everyone, Temari, Shikadai, Naruto and for Konoha, he worked so hard.

Her husband was wasted.

But still, did he really want to throw everything away and become a cloud to this day?

Temari did not want to know.

She was grateful that her husband had worked so hard for them, she was grateful for him helping Shikadai grow. Shikamaru and Temari were more pleased than anyone about Shikadai’s efforts in the Chuunin Exams. He’d been so happy. He was a good father.

That’s why, when he came home, she wanted him to be more open with her.

Her hands were gripping her knees tightly, her knuckles were white.

Naruto stood down from the podium. Thunderous applause echoed around the venue.

“You really did it, Shikamaru,” Temari said, staring at the vacant seat next to Naruto.