“Today’s the Land of Iron. I’ll be back in three days,” Shikamaru said to Temari, who stood behind him as he slid his arms into the sleeves of his white coat. For once, Shikadai was sitting at the low table today. He seemed somehow different from his usual self, his face tense as he ate his breakfast.
“You got today off?” Shikamaru called to him.
“Yeah.” The reply was curt, and his son didn’t so much as glance his way. Since they didn’t know which way things would play out with the Land of Earth, Konoha was increasing the number of ninja stationed in the village, and the effects of this policy were showing up on the younger ninja already.
But this too would end soon. Either everyone would go back to their regular missions or they would head to the battleground. It all depended on what happened at the continental summit the next day.
Straddling the threshold, about to step out into the hallway, he announced, “Okay, I’m off then.”
“Dad.” Shikadai voice was strained.
Shikamaru stopped and looked back at his son over his shoulder.
Shikadai kept his eyes on the rice in the bowl he held in his right hand. “What’s gonna happen to Konoha? What’s gonna happen to us?” The honest anxiety of a child spilled out of him, uncontainable. Shikamaru could hear it in the boy’s words.
“Shikadai,” he said, putting stress on the last syllable.
His son sat up straighter and looked at him with wide, sharp eyes, so like those of his mother.
Smiling, Shikamaru began to speak. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. Life’ll be back to normal, same as usual, the day after tomorrow. So don’t just mess around because you have the day off. Go train with Cho-Cho and Inojin.”
Shikadai nodded, his face crumpling like he couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry.
Many ninja already knew what was happening throughout the continent right now. Shikadai and Temari would have had to have been aware of what Shikamaru was up against at the moment, but Shikamaru never spoke about work at home, so Temari and Shikadai had also kept quiet about it.
He went back into the living room, crouched down behind his son, and put a hand on his warm head. Temari watched silently. Shikamaru faced forward as he stroked the boy’s hair.
“Your dad is the Lord Seventh’s right hand,” Shikamaru said. “And he’s telling you there’s nothing to worry about. We’re going to be fine.”
“Uh-huh.” Shikadai sniffled. He was probably trying not to cry.
Shikamaru tousled his hair before taking his hand away and standing up. “I better get going.”
“Dad.”
“Hm?”
“It’s probably a drag, but keep fighting.”
“It is a drag, but I’ll keep fighting even if it kills me.” He turned his back to his son and walked down the hall. Temari was silent behind him as he sat on the step that led down to the entryway and pulled on his shoes.
“Okay!” He stood up and turned around with a smile on his face. He looked at Temari. She wore her usual tough expression as she returned his gaze. “I’ll be back in three days.”
Temari nodded. “Never forget that no matter what happens to you, you’ve got two comrades who would never betray you.”
Temari and Shikadai. His priceless family.
Smiling, he nodded. “You don’t have to tell me. I know.”
“Yeah?”
“Mm.”
They smiled at each other.
“Say, Shikamaru?”
“What?”
“I don’t care if you don’t remember anniversaries and things like that. Well, at the time, I was a little angry, but it’s honestly fine either way.”
Neither of them was particularly good at saying what they really felt. It was something they had in common. But in that moment, Temari was desperately trying to communicate her feelings to him. And that was enough for Shikamaru. He felt gratified just knowing that Temari would always be upfront and honest with him whatever the words—even if she said she hated him.
Wait...
He’d be in a bit of trouble if she didn’t like him a little at least.
Standing in the entryway, Shikamaru waited unhurried for his wife to continue.
“You’ve never once talked about work at home. I know that’s because you don’t want to put us through all that. But it’s annoying.”
It was indeed true that he didn’t want to put them through anything painful. But Shikamaru had another reason for not talking about work at home.
He didn’t want to be the kind of man who has a couple drinks and grumbles about all the terrible things he has to deal with in the world outside. This wasn’t just in front of his family either; he was the same with everyone he saw. Complaining wouldn’t move him a single step forward. If he had time to whine about all his problems, then it was by far more constructive to spend that time dealing with them.
It was true that he would occasionally grumble about something or other when he was out having a good time. But those words weren’t from his heart. They were jokes, things the people he was with could simply laugh off. It was different from complaining. Or so he personally thought.
“Talk to me,” Temari said, her eyes red, bringing to life an old memory in the back of his mind.
It was back when Darui, Kurotsuchi, and Chojuro were still spirited young ninja of their villages. Separate from the meeting of the Five Kages, the up-and-coming ninja of the different villages would sometimes get together in the Land of Iron. Shikamaru and Temari had both been members of that group.
This was around the time he’d snuck into the Land of Silence alone, after it was determined that the reason for the decline in incoming missions lay in that strange nation, and tried to assassinate their leader, Gengo. Shikamaru had headed out on his assassination mission without even telling the people he was close to in Konoha, much less the members of this group in the Land of Iron.
He’d been tense, though. And before anyone else, Temari noticed that Shikamaru was off from his usual self somehow. She’d asked him if she could lend a hand, and he had brushed her off.
“You remember?” he asked the woman who had once been his comrade and was now his wife.
Of course, Temari only cocked her head, not understanding the meaning of his question.
“Before I went to the Land of Silence. You hit me.”
When he’d told her he didn’t need her help and rebuffed any further inquiry, Temari had knocked him flying. She’d been crying.
“I’m hopeless,” he told her. “I’m doing the same thing I did back then.”
But now as she was opening her heart to him, his own heart also opened, spilling forth a sentiment and affection he’d never shown anyone before. Eyes bright red, Temari shook her head from side to side. “You’re doing plenty. There’s no need for me to hit you now. You’re a wonderful man.”
No one else could have said those words and made him happier than he was now. And he could believe those words coming from her.
It’s probably a drag, but keep fighting.
You’re a wonderful man.
His son and his wife held Shikamaru up with their loving words. He felt a surge of strength in the core of his heart, and he knew he wouldn’t waver no matter what happened in the days to come. This was the best pep talk he could have hoped for heading into the final match.
“Go, Shikamaru. And since you’re going, make sure you win. I won’t let you through that door again if you lose.” Her eyes were still red, but her face was back to the usual Temari.
She despised things being askew and was stricter than anyone with their son. She was too good of a wife for him and a perfect mother.
“It’s a drag, but I guess I’ll go.”
“Get out there.”
With warmth in his heart, Shikamaru opened the door that led to the battlefield.