Shikamaru Shinden Chapter 22

It’s been a long journey, thanks for staying until the end. Please remember not to repost this anywhere.

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CHAPTER 22

“Really… Thank you…”

The Daimyo bowed his head deeply to Naruto. Shikamaru watched on from just behind the pair with a gentle smile. The Daimyo of the Land of Flowers had arrived in Konoha just yesterday, and despite being tired, he insisted on a meeting.

He was… Young.

He was about the same age as Shikadai, his father had just passed away a few months earlier. He had worked hard, despite being unfamiliar with the work. The news of the invasion had left him up to his ears in trouble.

“My country is really small, if there was a war, what would happen to my people? Would they become refugees to the Land of Earth? I was so impressed by Ikkyu’s speech and I agreed with his message. Originally our country wanted to work with the Land of Earth, but it’s thanks to the Hokage work, that our village remained. I can’t say in words how grateful I am to you!” the young man said.

Since he’d entered the room, the boy had been bowing. Naruto was scratching his head embarrassed.

It was really nice that things had worked out. At the Continental Talks, Danjo had agreed to a new tax on his new territory. It was a quiet ceremony.

Younger than Shikadai, the young lord’s eyes had been sparkling as he talked to Naruto.

“Um…” Shikamaru interrupted.

He knew he was being rude, but Shikamaru had to stop the conversation.

“What is it Shikamaru?” Naruto asked, looking over his shoulder.

Shikamaru had remembered something. Naruto turned to the Flower Daimyo.

“At the Five Kage talks and the Continental Talks, if it wasn’t for Shikamaru here, they wouldn’t have happened,” Naruto said.

“Really?!” the Flower Daimyo rose up.

He passed Naruto and walked over to Shikamaru, his gait similar to that of a young child. Shikamaru inched back in his chair.

“What was your name?” he asked, squeaking out his question.

“It’s Shikamaru…” Shikamaru said slowly.

“Mr. Shikamaru! Thanks to you, my country is saved! Thank you so much!”

Were Shikamaru was sitting, the Flower Daimyo bowed so viciously that Shikamaru had to scoot his chair out of the way to avoid the kid hitting him.

With shining eyes, the Flower Daimyo grabbed Shikamaru’s hand with his two hands.

“You’re the man who helped the Hokage! I saw you!”

The boy had stopped by the Land of Fire on his way to Konoha. After the Continental Talks were over, the conflict had ended. The Daimyo had made his way here only a week after the talks were over.

“I really wanted to meet and thank you!” the young man said, bowing many times and vigorously shaking the hand in his grasp.

“Ah… Umm…” Shikamaru mumbeled.

“What’s wrong?” the boy asked, his eyes glowing.

His smile was so full, it could light up a room. He was ready to answer anything.

“There’s something I wanted to ask if I ever got to meet you?” Shikamaru said.

“Yes!?”

“Why was it, at the Continental Talks, you didn’t appeal to the Earth Daimyo about his unfairness?” Shikamaru asked.

“Oh, is that it?” he let go of Shikamaru’s hand, and pointed at his own face.

“If a child with a desperate face appealed to them in tears, what would you think the other countries would say? Even if I managed to stay calm, it would end the same. Either way, I’d be struggling and suffering. My country is small, we can’t afford to show any weakness. What could I do? I chose to stay silent. I sat without saying anything. I let the rest of the world make their judgment,” the Daimyo said.

“So… You,”

“Of course I talked to my closest allies about it, but I made the choice by myself,”

Because of his weakness, he was able to accept his reality as he saw it. The boy may seem naive, but a closer look showed a wise spirit.

The Flower Country would be fine with him in charge.

“Thank you for answering my rude question,” Shikamaru bowed.

The Daimyo shook his head.

“N-not a problem! I should be thanking you!”

Eventually, the boy left, walking alone down the stairs. Because he was free for only a little while, the Daimyo if the Land of Flowers returned the very same day he arrived. Shikamaru and Naruto saw him off at the front gates.

“Hn!”

There were three guards standing near the young lord, including Shikamaru’s own young son. As Naruto talked to the Daimyo, Shikamaru walked up behind his son.

“Chocho and Inojin, you two should take the front, I’ll guard the back,” Shikadai said, all three of the friends faces serious.

Moegi would be going with the trio. Only she noticed Shikamaru coming closer.

“Isn’t that right Moe- AACK!”

Looking back at Moegi for affirmation, Shikadai had let out a gasp at the sight of his dad. The accompaniments from the Land of Flowers turned their heads at the sound.

“What’s the matter?” Shikamaru asked his son.

“Well, it’s this lineup…” Shikadai mumbled.

Shikadai had trailed off, his eyes wide. Moegi filled in for the flustered boy.

“We’re going to protect him until he’s safe and sound in the Land of Flowers,” she explained.

To be recognized as a capable shinobi, it was important to stay with the Daimyo until he was safe. That’s why Shikadai was doing his best, at least that’s what Shikamaru believed.

“Hey, Shikadai,” Moegi spoke to his son.

“Although we avoided a war, the Daimyo won’t be a hundred percent safe. Hana has received a lot of attention due to this incident. Strange people are going to try to attack. Don’t get clumsy here,” Moegi said.

“I know,” Shikadai said.

Shikamaru thought he might have argued with her, but his son nodded submissively. Shikadai had learned how to control himself, he could turn off the gas of his inner fire.

“You’re not letting your feelings get in the way of you, are you?” Moegi asked.

“Of course not,” Shikadai said.

Suddenly a black figure flickered into view next to Moegi. It had the face of a cat.

“What are you doing here Hinoko?” Shikamaru asked.

“Oh no! Don’t go calling me my name here!” she protested.

“Cut it out,” A monkey faced mask appeared next to her. “The Flower Daimyo is one of the heroes of the Continental Talks. We have had eight people agree to accompany him,” Rou said.

“You should have heard all the low-quality Danjo puns he made while we were traveling,” Hinoko groaned.

“Argh… Don’t say that. Despite his weird sayings, he is a very good shinobi,” Shikamaru said.

“Shit! Shikamaru, what would he be without his puns? He is a pun! It’s the meaning of his life, no pun, no life!” Hinoko said.

“Then he should quit as a shinobi,” Shikamaru deadpanned.

“Oh yeah right!”

“Who’s denying their severe punishments?” Rou asked.

“That was so low,” Hinoko sighed.

“I don’t care, how would you have it be?” Shikamaru asked.

“Don’t listen to her Shikamaru!” Rou cried.

“Um…” Moegi was feeling awkward.

Shikamaru jabbed his finger at the two ANBU.

“They might be weird, but their work is top notch,” Shikamaru explained.

“What are you like, saying?” Hinoko glared.

Shikamaru ignored her and spoke to Moegi.

“About my son, can I ask you something?” he said.

“I already know,” Moegi said, nodding.

“Well then, I’m going back to work,” Hinoko said, moving to disappear again.

Shikamaru stopped her.

“This time, you two saved me. Thank you,” he said earnestly.

“With all of your work, don’t hesitate on calling upon us in a pinch,” she said.

“I won’t take it for granted,” Shikamaru replied.

They both disappeared.

“Shikadai,” Shikamaru said, calling his son who was chatting with his friends. “I don’t know what will happen, but I trust you. If something seems impossible, don’t do it. That’s an important part of being a shinobi,”

Not words for his cute child, but Shikadai had to go out and work hard to progress and protect his friend.

“I know,” Shikadai said.

He smiled at his son.

“Okay then, good luck!” Shikamaru grinned.

“It’s troublesome, but I’ll do it,” Shikadai smiled back.

He seemed to have understood their talk from before about ‘troublesome’ things. He blinked and looked up at his dad.

“I’ll be back by tomorrow, so during that time, don’t get into any fights with mum,” Shikadai said.

“No way,”

With that Shikamaru waved goodbye and walked back to the office with Naruto.

-0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000-

As Shikamaru walked down the busy street, everyone stared.

How embarrassing.

He hurried home, his face tomato red. He’d never done anything like this before. He wasn’t just flustered by everyone’s gaze.

But because of his goal, he wouldn’t complain. He really wanted to, but he wouldn’t.

If he’d remembered to buy them from the shop before, he wouldn’t be in this situation. But what would have happened then?

Ino had sold on the originals by now to someone else.

Shikamaru would thank her properly this time.

“That Naruto…”

He hid his face in the item in his hands.

'You better take home all the yellow ones!’ he remembered Naruto saying.

He was being nice. He understood. Naruto wasn’t upset. He knew that.

But he embarrassed enough to die.

He was nearly home.

A little more…

He hurried inside the entrance of his house.

“Welcome back!” Temari greeted him in the hallway, her eyes wide at Shikamaru’s appearance.

“What happened? What’s all this?” she asked bewildered.

“W-Well…”

He couldn’t meet her eye, he stood in the doorway.

“Before, because we helped out the Land of Flowers, their Daimyo gave us a tonne of flowers, so I took some,” he explained.

“Why only yellow flowers?” she asked.

Shikamaru’s arms were overflowing with yellow flowers, far too many to be held.

“You’re making up for forgetting our wedding anniversary, aren’t you?” she asked.

She had a serious look, staring at Shikamaru. Her mood made Shikamaru nervous, he held out the flowers to her, holding his breath, trying to talk with his gift.

“Shikamaru,” Temari said.

“Wh-what?” he was horrified, waiting for her words.

“Are you happy now?” she asked.

“Huh?”

He didn’t understand the question. He thought he was being condemned.

They both struggled to put thoughts to words, but Temari spoke first.

“What do you think of living here with us?” she asked.

He finally understood what she was saying.

“Heh…” He laughed in spite of himself.

Temari’s brows furrowed. He smiled at her.

“You look at all this and ask me that?” he said, pushing the flowers into her arms.

“You don’t have to ask me these questions,” he said.

Temari’s mouth hung open, Shikamaru spoke to her honestly.

“Thank you. Always,” he said.

Her hair swayed like a flower in bloom.

“Ah!” her gentle face suddenly changed.

“Shikamaru! Before you left for the Land of Iron, you left your shirt in your room! When I found it, it was about to ferment! You always forget to put your laundry in the basket! How many times do I have to tell you!?” she said.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his forehead sweating.

“Um…” he muttered.

“What?” she asked.

“Can you hold on to those for me?” he asked.

“Sure,” she said.

Temari embraced the yellow flowers.

“I’m sorry,”

Shikamaru bent his back in a bow to his wife.

“…It’s okay now,” Temari said.

She walked back into the kitchen, Shikamaru made to follow but stopped after a few steps.

“Thank you,” she said, her back to him.

“O-Okay,”

When she heard his reply, she swaggered into the kitchen.

Shikamaru took a deep breath, then let it out. He took off his shoes. He would remember to put his laundry in the basket.

His family was very troublesome.

“That’s that,”

The everyday life he’d sworn to create, was right in front of his eyes.