#also kankuro please marry me

[dira333]

Dress Shopping - Kankuro - Baby Series part 1

Thanks to @neonrogueraven for reminding me of Kankuro

“How many dresses are there?” Kankuro asks, leaning back in his chair. 

You’re on the other side of the door and from what he can hear, getting dressed seems to be an intense workout.

“Five. And a jumpsuit.”

“A jumpsuit?!”

“I know,” you whine, “But Temari ordered it and she’s got style.”

“She doesn’t,” he insists, turning when he hears a telltale sound. “Babe, Kanzo woke up.”

“Can you pick him u-”

“Already on it,” he moves through the room in two steps. His son’s chubby arms are already outstretched, waiting for him to pick him up.

“Did you sleep well, buddy?” Kankuro asks, rubbing his thumb along the creases in his chubby cheek.

Kanzo’s response is a gurgling sound, which is not quite laughter but happy enough.

“Did you make a stink?” He asks next, lifting the boy to sniff his behind. “Oh yeah, you made a big stink.”

Kanzo makes another sound, clearly pleased that he got him there.

“I’m changing his diaper,” he calls out to you, lifting Kanzo onto the table, “Just in case you’re already in that dreaded thing.”

“Don’t worry, this thing has too many strings. I’ll need a minute or two.”

“Strings? What did Tem buy you this time? Haven’t you learned from your own wedding?”

He can hear your laughter through the door, his favorite sound next to Kanzo’s little gurgle.

“In my defense, I looked amazing in that dress.”

“You absolutely did, but it was a pain in the ass to get you out of it.”

“Ah, you will not like this jumpsuit then.”

Kankuro can hear the door slide open, has half the mind to pick Kanzo up as he turns. His son doesn’t mind hanging bare-assed in the air, but maybe he’s also a little distracted by your sight like he is.

The jumpsuit’s dark purple with black accents, matching his face paint and usual uniform, and it hugs you in all the right places. You might complain sometimes about how you still haven’t lost all of the pregnancy weight but if you’d ask him you’d never looked better.

“Your arms look amazing in this,” he stutters, realizing what you meant with “strings”. Like hundreds or thousands of glittering purple snakes, strings of fabric twist around your arms. “You could keep me in a chokehold in that outfit and I wouldn’t complain.”

You snort. “You’re an idiot.”

“And you married me.”

“That I did. I know you like me in everything and a garbage bag, but should I wear this to the wedding?”

“Absolutely not,” Kankuro shakes his head for good measure, “You’re not allowed to leave this house wearing that.”

You laugh. “Oh, it’s like that? Alright, I’ll try one of the dresses next. But first-” You cross the room to squish Kanzo’s cheeks, dropping a wet kiss on his nose. The boy gurgles excitedly, wiggling in Kankuro’s grip.

“And I don’t get a kiss?” He asks, grinning when you lean in to kiss him as well.

-

“This is the last one,” you declare from behind the door. There’s exhaustion laced into your voice. 

“Look, if this one isn’t the right one either I can go out and buy something else. I know what you like.”

“Yeah, but Temari ordered them especially for the wedding, I don’t want to show up in something else. You know how bossy she can get about these things.”

“It’s not even her own wedding,” Kankuro reminds you. “It’s important that you feel good and that the bride is okay with it.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” It’s quiet for a moment. He can hear you shuffle around and Kanzo’s snuggled into his side, chewing on one of the rings Gaara bought him to help with teething. 

“What do you think?” He asks his son, knowing he’ll most likely not get a coherent answer. “Dress number three was pretty, right?”

“Wrong color,” you remind him.

“I was talking to Kanzo,” He props up his son, mimicking the voice he imagines he’ll have one day. “I think Mommy looked amazing in it. She should keep it for playtime.”

“I don’t think that dress is appropriate for playtime,” you declare, pushing the door open.

Kankuro turns and his jaw slackens. Kanzo, seizing the opportunity, sticks his hand inside his father’s mouth.

“That bad?” You ask, giggling as he sputters around Kanzo’s clammy fingers.

“That’s the dress,” he insists, “It’s perfect.”

“You think so?” You twirl once and he’s already up, catching your hand and pulling you in.

“Definitely. I’d marry you again in this one.”

Kanzo blows a raspberry and you lift him out of Kankuro’s grasp, cuddling him close.

“You think so too? Well, if both my boys agree, I guess I finally have a dress to wear.”

-

“Where’s my favorite sister?” Temari asks, pulling you in. “Which dress did you pick?”

“It’s a surprise,” Kankuro insists from behind you, Kanzo tied to his front.

Temari sticks her tongue out at him before leaning in to tickle Kanzo’s cheeks. He squeals excitedly and so does she.

“My favorite nephew,” she declares, before winking at Gaara. “So far.”

[bandsandwristbands]

A post with questions - please tell me more about headcanons with piercings 👁️ 🫦 👁️ who is the big spoon/little spoon too

HEWWOOOOOO 💕💕💕💕

boy i hope this is about gaara and or lee cuz thats what im talkin bout

omg so piercings

Firstly i hc piercings as very normal/relevent in Suna with different ones popular for different types of ceremony! More 'casual' ones for coming of age (like ears, lips, eyebrows etc), more ornate ones for spiritual devotion/religious reasons (Things like more fragile dermals, stretching, specific types of metal or crystals represented in the jewelry would be indicative of status as well) Also probably personally assigned meanings to signify marriage or familial status.

Also also tattoos and henna are popular for similar reasons

OKAY onto Gaara specific hcs

I think Temari pierced his ears for him shortly after the chuunin exams. Two sets to represent his siblings and the relationship with them that he is now starting to fix. (Yada yada healing physically while healing damaged connections yadayada) Plus it's something to bond over mutual interest.

Belly piercing cuz i said so idk if you want gender hcs but short of it is it makes him feel pretty lol

I think he'd show interest in piercings/body mods to try and connect with his people and culture more in pursuit of Kazekage office but also would be about Him trying to practice controlling his sand in response to pain. Between hosting a demon and being treated like a weapon most of his life, Gaara probably struggles with feeling present or in control of his body so having agency over his own pain and how he gets to present would be cathartic.

Others ones that I like on him in general but may be ooc to some are tongue, smiley, or corset but they're all good really 👌👌

Others

Temari def has a belly piercing tooo as well as lots of ear piercings (helix on one side probably for shikamaru, daith, like three on the lobe)

Temari also pierces any Konohan homies who show interest (Mostly the girls, she def pierced Ino's nips lolll)

Kankuro has his whole face done basically (Tongue, snake bites, all three on the nose, an eyebrow my cringe goth king)

Lee is unpierced for practical reasons, with the way he's constantly moving, fighting, getting injured it'd be a bit anxiety inducing to worry about it. He thinks they're very cool tho and really appreciates the cultural significance. He can be convinced once he and Gaara are married uwu

Lee does get done up with traditional henna at the pressure from the locals because it's a warrior thing and when in rome yknow. Plus Gaara is real gay about it. Seeing his culture all over Lee has him all mushy inside.

All three sand sibs go all out during festivals with the ornate body jewelry because they're allowed to express themselves in an official way without the council being a bunch of squares. Flexing the kage wealth a bit lol.

((I don't have any art for this rn cuz I'm including it in Lore Art for a behemoth fic I started that I hope to god i finish in a reasonable time lol))

Anyways they take turns with spooning, they both want to just curl up and disappear into each other although Gaara big spooning is more like a backpack, Lee sprawls and Gaara clings (touch starved headass)

[everysai]

What's your favorite Sai pairing?

Aaaah I have to say I'm such a multishipper at heart, I love so many of them haha ❤️

My personal fav is narusai 🫶 their opposite personalities is a really fun dynamic and I have such a soft spot for the development their relationship went through, how it started off so antagonistic and ended up as such a genuine friendship where they really care for each other 🥲 I also have a lot of feelings about Sai saying he can tell that Naruto loves Sakura bc he's always smiling around her, while Sai is always smiling around/because of Naruto.... and the moments where he steps in to protect him with Sasuke and with Karui (the latter especially bc of the way he stands in front of him, and then patches up his injuries afterwards) I have such a weakness for that as a romantic trope jskjfasdjks

I like inosai too, but its hard for me to have as strong an opinion on them bc there really is no development at all in the manga? They only speak to each other once and then are suddenly married in the epilogue lmao. It seems like their storyline takes place in the novels and Boruto though, and I have no interest in reading those unfortunately... But I really like that whenever I see screencaps of them from Boruto they seem to have a happy relationship. Sai deserves that 🥹

Saisaku also had some cute moments, like when he blushed at her in the library. Two very rare Sai ships I'd love to see more of are Sai/Lee and Sai/Kankuro too, bc he had a fun dynamic with both of them during the war. Lee being like "please continue to draw your tigers without fear... I will protect you!!! 🏋️" always makes me giggle jsdfjgs

[aidontdraw]

I mean technically, yes.

The entire plot of Gaara's Hidden Novel, for real this time:

The Council, "You have to marry..."

Gaara, *thinks of Naruto* Okay.

The Council, "... A woman. And have babies with her."

Gaara, "Oh." *you know I used to murder people for fun, I don't do that anymore, but for some reason I want to right now*

The Council, "Don't worry we've set up everything."

Gaara, "... Great."

Cute sibling bonding time,

Temari, "Remember that I love you when I say this."

Gaara, confused, but "I love you, too."

Temari, "Please don't talk about murder to this young lady."

Gaara, "I wasn-

Kankuro, noticing tension in his baby brother, "Let's do shots!"

Gaara, "Oka- *takes sip* - this is the worst thing I've ever drank. Why do people do this?"

The woman, "Hi."

Gaara, she's as pretty as my uncle, and reminds me of Naruto, "So, I raise cacti. It's my favorite thing to do. Did you know cacti are actually..."

---

Kankuro, who's canonically into puppets, "You know at least it's not murder."

Temari, "Honestly, with how dorky he is rn, he should have just talked about murder."

---

The woman, "I'm so glad you didn't talk about murder."

Gaara, why does everyone think I'm going to talk about murder, I have hobbies. Naruto likes to talk about my hobbies, "I was prepped."

The woman, "lol, you're so funn-

Ninja Attack.

Trys to kill Gaara. Fails.

Ninja kidnapping of the woman.

Temari & Kankuro, "We'll do dumb paperwork stuff, and cleaning up the mess stuff, and collecting the prisoners stuff."

The woman's sister, "I'll help you go after the guys who kidnapped my sister."

Sister, "blah blah blah, drops some hints about the twist ending, blah blah blah. My sister."

Gaara, this woman is also like Naruto, has an intresting connection with her, "Youre very kind. We have to save your sister now."

Werid mention about Gaara's powers, where they make it even more confusing than they already were. Also establishing the twist ending.

Big ninja battle. Finds his future wife, with the final bad guy. The bad guy finds a way to disarm Gaara's sand.

Gaara, "I'm going to kill you anyways."

Bad guy, "No, you're not."

Gaara, twist powers start working anyways, "Yes, I am."

The woman, "No, you're not."

Gaara, realizing any wife from Suna might try to kill him, "You were apart of the plan to murder me this whole time???"

The woman, "Yeah, I didn't want to marry you. Your sewet and all, but I love this man."

Gaara, processing he doenst care for her enough to deal with this bullshit, sand attack, "This man?"

Bad guy, realizing he's going to fucking die, "maybe don't say that, rn."

Gaara, Naruto would offer mercy, "I'll help you fake your death. I don't want to be marred to a woman," realizes what he's saying, so he adds, "who hates me."

They leave for Konoha I think.

Gaara and the gang stop another assassination attempt on his life.

The Entire Plot of Gaara's Hidden Novel:

The Council, "You have to marry..."

Gaara, *thinks of Naruto* "Okay."

The Council, "... A woman. & have babies with her."

Gaara, "Oh."

The Woman, "Hi, I also don't want to be here."

Gaara, "Info dumps about plants." *this going so well, she kinda reminds me of Naruto*

The Woman, is still a woman, "Hey, what if left, and faked my death?"

Gaara, *realizing that he's gay* "I can help you with that."

[mrsbakashi]

who are the best siblings in the whole naruto series and why are temari and kankuro?

i can't handle them. literally speaking without words.

[animeyanderelover]

Can you please do a married yandere for Temari, Shikamaru, Naruto, Gaara, Kankuro, and Baki

I loved to do this😍. I love married Yanderes for some reasons really much just as much as parental Yanderes. Seriously guys, give me child Hc's the next time the inbox is open. Please also keep in mind that I didn't wantch Bokuto so this is solely my opinion.

Tw: Yandere themes, unhealthy mindset, unhealthy relationship, possessiveness, obsessiveness, delusions, protective behavior

Married

Baki

🌬Baki gives me some traditional guy vibes and so I can see him wanting to marry his darling at one point. He probably would wait for the right timing when both of them have already established a very good relationship and they have also learned to divide the household chores right because whilst he has a very hectic job, he also doesn't want to let his darling do all the work alone and if both of them have a job that takes time, there will have to be a talk about how to take care of the house. Baki is pretty tidy so it is somewhat important to him. In marriage there is of course still a certain set of rules to be followed, but at this point he has grown much more softer so the rules aren't that tied anymore. Talking a bit about his marriage, he would probably only invite people he feels close too, including his former students.

🌬He is not a husband who is very often home which probably wouldn't be too bad if his darling is onmissions or has work to do as well because he doesn't expect them to stay home the whole day and wait for him. As already mentioned in the Hc's, he lets his darling do what they want if he has his work to do. His darling should still take some responsibilty for the house just like he does which means if they do not know how to cook or how to clean, they'll have to learn it because now they live together with him. Sounds stricter than it is at first, but at the very least they can do it then. Once he does marry you, he expects other people to know that you are by law together with him which makes him more annoyed when someone still hits on you. Baki still takes pride in being your husband which is why he almost never takes the ring off except when there is the danger that he might lose it.

Temari

🌪She might not even appear to be someone who would be into marriage at first, but she definitely plans on making her darling eventually her spouse when the time is right. But she wants to wait until the time is right and both her and her darling are ready for one of the biggest steps in their life. She gets maybe a bit nervous when she asks for her darling's hand in marriage, but she wouldn't confess if she wouldn't be sure that they want to do it with her and she already told her darling she wants to marry them so they knew that it would be coming soon anyways. Gets kind of excited the closer her and your special day gets closer and it is unusual to see her almost a bit bouncy since she normally always keeps a clear head. She wouldn't want to make a big deal out of her marriage, even though she still wants a pretty wedding. She also only invites people who she feels comfortable with, simply because even she becomes a bit of an emotional mess, it just means a lot to her.

🌪Temari is also a woman who has her work to do and she somewhat ends up making her darling some sort of house spouse if I'm being honest. She is a bit of a more dominant wife to have and helping her younger siblings is still something she won't give up on. She is still loyal to her village and she is a bit on the workaholic side, even though not as bad as some others. She just likes the thought of coming home after a long and terrible day and being greeted by you having prepared a meal for her and waiting for her. It is just her imagination though, she won't force her darling, even though she still makes sure that they stay a bit more at home than normally. If her imagination does come true, she gets somewhat flustered, but is happy about it nevertheless and it's not like she doesn't do anything in the house, she likes helping her s/o when she has the time. She keeps her ring all the time with her, it's somewhat of her lucky item.

Kankuro

🎎Kankuro is a playfully possessive type of Yandere, but I do not think that marrying his darling would be really something he sees as that important at first. It's not like he wouldn't want to do it later on, it's just that different from his siblings he would actually be just as fine with never being married and just remaining as a couple forever. Marriage is simply not th presented on his mind. It wouldn't be unless people start asking him about when he plans to ask for your hand because he has been so long together with you so that many think it is about time he asks for your hand. That would be the point where he starts thinking about it a lot more and realizes that it would only make sense. Problem is that he never really informed himself about much more than puppets in his life and has not exactly a very keen idea on how to organize a wedding. But what are big sisters for? Temari just knew she had to help him anyways.

🎎Of course he has his pride and kind of rejects her help at first, trying to do it on his own until he realizes that he is overwhelmed with all of it. He still is allowed to throw some ides in, even though question is if Temari accepts them as long as they're not good since she is serious. He wouldn't really behave any different than before though which can either be a good or a bad thing. He does not really plan to settle down just yet and doesn't expect the same from his darling either. They can still do as they wish. They should just get use to him transporting his whole collection of puppets and tools over in the new house he has moved in with them now that he is married. But he quickly finds himself putting a lot of emphasis that you are his wife/husband and whenever he introduces his darling to someone, he always prefers to them as his spouse. After all he is possessive and this can be found either very cute or very annoying from his s/o.

Gaara

🐼Oh my lord, please just marry this guy here since he dreams about this so early on in this relationship. Gaara wants to marry his darling so badly, you don’t understand. The only things that are really holding him back are his shyness and his insecurities that his s/o might not want to marry him due to his past. Ridiculous since they wouldn’t be with him in the first place if that would be the case, but he worries nevertheless. But as the Kazekage his relationship is known, which makes him worried that someone might target his darling for it, and for that people and his siblings just ask him this question at one point a lot. They just want to know and his siblings know best that he actually would really love asking for his darling’s hand in marriage. Gaara finds himself with more time getting impatient and twitchy anyways and the first time he asks what they think of a marriage, he has already a light blush on his face. This makes it pretty obvious what he wants and if his darling tells him then and there that they want to marry him, he'll probably die on the inside from a small heart attack, too flustered to say anything afterwards.

🐼It's still the cue word that he shouldn't worry that much, but he is still a nervous mess when he finally asks you for your hand in marriage, his siblings having helped him with planning a bit. He really doesn't want to make a too huge fuss about it, he wants to shield you a bit. But as Kazekage it will be made public and the day of his wedding will be made a day of celebration in the village and it'll be a huge marriage, planned by him and his siblings since he has a solid idea on how he wants his marriage to be. The other Kage come as guests as well and everyone is just happy that Gaara has found someone. He, similar to his sis, never takes his ring off and sometimes he just stares at it as if not believing that he really is married to you now. He refers to himself as his darling's husband and if it wouldn't be for his work as the Kage, he would actually love to become a house husband and wait for his darling to come home after a day filled with work. He enjoys doing household chores more than others think. Gaara honestly just wants a peaceful and happy married life with his darling.

Naruto Uzumaki

🍜Naruto is a very sweetly delusional Yandere to have and just like Gaara he thinks about marrying his darling already since a long time, maybe even before they were by their own free will together with him. He is anyways sure they feel the same way so he doesn’t see the problem. But different from the redhead he is not that shy, he is actually quite bold about it and so he talks about it quite often with them as well as others so the whole village knows about it. So it is honestly for everyone just a question of time since Naruto already acts like you are a married couple. He refers to you as his spouse and to himself as your husband. The whole village knows anyways when he finally asks for your hand in marriage which will be no surprise for everyone, they all just bet how fast he would do it and the whole Konoha 12 squad gladly helps him with the organization, especially Sakura. Since Naruto is seen as a hero, the marriage will be the one or another way big and many people attend. And Naruto himself has quite the creative ideas for his wedding.

🍜Naruto really just wants to spend time with his darling afterwards a lot and he always seeks for a time gap where he can just rush home and be with them. He is not always with his darling and he feels sorry for that which is why he is often extra affectionate when he comes back. He is a bit on the messy side which is a thing his darling will probably have to lecture him a bit about so he will start becoming more tidy and a more healthy plan what to eat would also be a good idea. He kind of nags at the beginning about it, but he adjusts rather quickly to it and he finds his love in doting a bit on his darling when he finds the time to do so, experimenting with cooking and baking a lot and serving it to them. Totally boosts about the fact that he is now really married to his darling, even though he already called himself the husband and his darling the spouse. The only difference is that now he has officially married you.

Shikamaru Nara

🦌He probably used to call marriage a drag, even when he was already with his darling. In reality he doesn’t think that way since he is from a clan as well. And whilst the Nara clan is not that traditional like the Hyuga clan, marriage is still a big thing for them. So Shikamaru can not avoid that topic at one point, his parents will talk with him about it at one point and his father will probably give him during a father-and-son talk some life advice which should better not be heard by his wife. That guy takes time with all of this though, he wants to be assured that both parts are comfortable enough with the thought of marriage despite all the fuss his clan and his freinds, specifically Ino, might make. The marriage will be a lot more commotion then he would like since his whole clan, all his friends and a lot more people will be invited and organizing all of it was already stressful enough for him since Ino had ideas and decorated a lot with different sorts of flowers with different, but fitting meanings.

🦌He doesn't want it to be noticed, but during the ceremony he is much more flustered than he wants to admit, marriage is still a pretty huge deal. In all honesty, even after marriage he will still sometimes refer to marriage as a drag, although he doesn't mean it. But life can still be a bit stressful from time to time and to avoid such uncalled-for arguments he saw his other friends having with their partners, he often just agrees to what you have to say unless it is about something serious where he will represent his own opinion. Has often talks about his father where both most likely complain a bit about all the stress and the commotion in their lives. That's all just talk, Shikamaru enjoys being your husband and he even jumps over his rather lazy attitude and does some of the household chores, his mother would probably lecture him if he would let you do all the work. He doesn't mention the fact that he is his darling's husband too often, mostly because it should be pretty obvious. But if someone either hits on you or him, he does emphasize it a lot more than usually.

[soliavenne]

Part 4 of Incorrect Quotes! Featuring more of Kankuro and Temari, and having Naruto as a guest star in one of the segments. XD

------------------------------------------------------

Temari: Having the best time of my life! :)

Y/n: Tem, Kankuro is drowning-

Temari: This ain't about him.

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[AU where if Gaara and Shijima(from Gaara Hiden) got married]

Gaara, opening a present from Y/n: Oh, thank you for...divorce papers?

Y/n: ...He's gonna need them, let's be real, we were ALL thinking it...

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Genin!Gaara: Your existence is confusing.

Genin!Y/n: How so?

Genin!Gaara: Your presence is annoying, but the thought of anything bad happening to you upsets me.

-------------------------------------------------------

Genin!Y/n: I'm sorry to tell you this, but you have a heart, and capacity to feel.

Genin!Gaara: You take that back.

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Y/n: Wow...

Gaara: What?

Y/n: *leans in close to his face*

Gaara, blushing: W-What are you doing?

Y/n: A study on cuteness.

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Y/n: Did Gaara just tell me he loved me for the first time?

Kankuro: Yeah, he did.

Y/n: ...And did I do finger guns back?

Kankuro: Yeah, you did.

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Gaara: Y/n and I are no longer friends.

Y/n: Gaara, that is the worst way to tell people we're dating.

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Y/n: Hey, sorry if I disappointed you.

Gaara: It's fine, nothing in life can disappoint me more than my father and uncle.

Y/n: Oh...kay.

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Gaara: Oh fiddlesticks. That really ruffles my sand-

Y/n, crying: pLEASE, JUST SAY FUCK.

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Y/n: Ooooh, Gaara! You had a crush on me~

Y/n: How embarrassing~

Gaara: My love, we're married.

Y/n, blushing: Still...

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Y/n: I had a boyfriend once. Sometimes it's like I can still hear his voice.

Gaara: My love, we literally got married six hours ago.

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[Chunin!Gaara walks in with a pink shirt]

Chunin!Temari: Oh, my god.

Chunin!Y/n: Gaara's wearing pink, he's wearing pink!

Chunin!Kankuro: Are we sure it's not just a white shirt that's been bloodied from a mission?

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Gaara: I tried to acknowledge their feelings. It wasn't easy. There were a lot of them.

[Earlier that day]

Y/n: I'm just so confused- Are you...Are you climbing out that window?

Gaara: *Halfway out the window*

Gaara:

Gaara: No.

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[After Gaara gets kidnapped]

Y/n: What exactly is your plan?

Kankuro: Rescue Gaara and get home safely.

Y/n: Kankuro, that's not a plan, that's a wishlist.

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Sasori/Deidara/Some other Akatsuki member idfk: Oh please, you wouldn't hurt a fly.

Y/n: You're right, because a fly is an innocent creature that never knowingly did anything to anybody. You, however, I would maim.

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Y/n: Hey, mind if I ride my skateboard outside?

Temari: Whatever, I'm not your mother.

Y/n: *runs off*

Temari: NOT IN THE STREET!!!

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Y/n: Hey, I'm getting lunch at Subway, anyone want anything?

Kankuro: Yeah, could I get white bread with just every sauce in it?

Y/n: You disgust me, no you cannot have lunch.

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Gaara: If sleep is water, then I am a cactus.

Y/n: I am a fish.

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Temari: Gods, give me patience.

Y/n: I think you mean give me strength.

Temari: If the Gods give me strength, everyone would be dead.

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Kankuro: Today, I'm pranking Gaara and-

Gaara, walking in and eating a bar of soap: Hello.

Kankuro: Are...Are you eating soap?

Gaara: I thought this taffy tasted kind of strange.

Kankuro:

Gaara:

Gaara, continuing to eat it:

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[After Y/n got badly injured from a mission]

Temari: You're losing a lot of blood! Quick, what's your type?!

Y/n: Redhead, blue eyes, likes cacti...

Temari: I mean your blood type!

Y/n: *squints at wound*

Y/n: Red.

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Chunin!Gaara: I'm not in love with Y/n.

Chunin!Kankuro, ducking: Damn, your bullshit almost hit me.

Chunin!Gaara: Did you just duck?

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Kankuro: Do you wanna see a butterfly?

Y/n: Sure!

Temari: nO-

Kankuro: *throws a stick of butter across the kitchen*

Gaara: Majestic.

-----------------------------------------------------

[After the Konoha Crush arc, and if the Sand Siblings had to apologize to Konoha's students]

Gaara: Alright, Naruto convinced me not to end the exams in bad terms with everyone...

Gaara: So apologize to me.

Naruto: No Gaara, that's not how-

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Y/n, trying to flirt: You know, you can just admit that you like me, it's pretty obvious pfft-

Gaara: I like you.

Y/n, blushing heavily: wait- WAIT, IT WAS A JOKE!

Gaara, sweating: Was I supposed to laugh???

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Gaara: What's this movie called?

Y/n: I love you, man.

Gaara: I love you too, but seriously what's the movie called?

Y/n: I LOVE YOU, MAN.

Gaara, confused but also decides to shout back: I LOVE YOU TOO, LOVE.

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[After Y/n first moved into Sunagakure]

Y/n: Let's break a window, it's too hot.

Kankuro: Or you could just open one.

-----------------------------------------------------

Temari: WHO ATE MY LUNCH?!

Kankuro: I dunno, but it tasted good.

Temari:

Temari: *Slaps Kankuro*

-------------------------------------------------------

Y/n, clenching their fists: Fight me!

Gaara, standing behind them, slowly uncapping his sand gourd and shaking his head: *mouths* Do not.

-------------------------------------------------------

Genin!Gaara: I don't do "love". Love is for fools.

Genin!Y/n, approaching the Sand siblings: Hey there!

Genin!Gaara:

Genin!Gaara: Fuck.

-------------------------------------------------------

Temari: I don't care what everyone says, the black cookie part is the best part of an oreo.

Gaara: Darkness without light is an abyss, light without darkness is blinding. You cannot have a coin with one side.

Kankuro: It's a fucking COOKIE.

-------------------------------------------------------

Gaara: *carrying grocery bags in both hands*

Y/n: *reaches out a hand to help him*

Gaara: *hands one of the bags to his controlling sand while the other bag rest in one arm, while his other hand takes Y/n's hand*

Y/n: *pouts, but doesn't pull away*

---

AAAAAA this is my favorite incorrect quotes chapter so far!! I love this soo much! 😭❤❤ Thank you very much for sharing this with the blog! I appreciate your effort and generosity as always, @its-sexy-beastington-to-you! 😊❤

[woman-child91]

Special message/heads-up to all of you Fudanshis, Fujoshis, Narutobowl, Uke Naruto, Bottom Naruto fans out there. Please avoid getting your heart broken and dreams crushed. Don’t ever watch Boruto.

Because, do you all remember how Naruto and Naruto Shippuden seemed like a BL PC Game where Naruto was the main character? The only love option? Do you remember how he went around making every guy he met fall for him? How about ALL of his many love choices, suitors, lovers, boyfriends, etc.

Or what about his good looks? His bubbly, cutesy, tenacious, bright, funny and full of life personality. Remember how hard he worked to become the strongest Shinobi of all?

Well, in Boruto this is what happens.

He gets a hideous haircut and is now way uglier.

He seems so tamed, dull, unhappy and lifeless now.

All of his many boyfriends/suitors, along with himself were all "converted". They were turned straight. They all have wives and kids now. They seem to no longer be into Naruto. Except for Sasuke. But, he’s hardly ever around. So it’s as if he wasn’t even there.

Naruto gets nerfed and can’t use ANY of his awesome moves. All of those hundreds of Shadow clones he could make? He never makes them. Giant Rasengan? He forgot about it. Sage mode? He never heard of it.

Anko? She got fat for no apparent or legit reason. Hinata and Tsunade became flat chested. Hiashi Hyūga is completely OOC and acts like how Kid Obito would’ve probably acted like if he had married Rin and had had kids. Kiba’s hotness? Yeah, he ugly as hell now. Gaara? He looks like a redhead Hitler pedophile. Mei? Her wrinkles remind me of Fugaku Uchiha. Kankuro? Looks like Harry from the 1994 Spider-Man cartoon. Yamato and Iruka? They look sooo old and ugly now.

Boruto, a character that almost nobody likes. Well, he supposedly uses talk-no-jutsu like his Dad to get himself boyfriends too. But, he’s so unbelievably unlikable that there’s no way you can believe that. In fact, after meeting Boruto you’ll probably hate Danzō a little less. Also, supposedly Boruto was the sun to a Judas character named, Mitsuki. But, the only reason why Mitsuki believed that Boruto was the love of his life was because, the day he was created Orochimaru brainwashed him and made him believe that Boruto was his boyfriend/love. Basically, this dude was hypnotized in a way.

And Sasuke Uchiha. What can I say about him? Do you all remember how he was a lot of teenage girls’s crush? Remember all those times he called Naruto a loser? Well, I’d be surprised if any one still had a crush on him now! He is such a loser now. He’s a mere caricature of how he used to be. He’s got no ambition. He’s got no fire in him. He’s also been weakened extremely! He’s lame, boring, awkward and he actually reminds me more of like Eugene from Hey Arnold! That’s how low he’s fallen.

So yes, please save yourself the trouble and just don’t ever watch Boruto. It’s not worth it. I mean, the whole show just feels like you’ve been put under a genjutsu by Itachi and you’re being tortured for years!

[misssunflowersandsangria]

Knots

Hello deers!  This has been sitting in my drafts folder for a while so I wanted to finally share it with you all.  It’s the last part of my Sand Sibs stories, Strings and Thread.  Enjoy it!

Summary: Temari had dreamed of supporting her brothers and leading Suna.  It was a role that she was content to fulfil for her entire life.  Then a curious thing came into her life in the form of one Shinobi from Konoha.

*

**

Knots

“I’m worried, she’s really sick.”

“Maybe it's like ya know. That time of the month.” Kankuro’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“You idiot. You absolute moron.” Temari's voice shot back through the layers of blankets.

“I think she's okay.”

“Temari, are you okay?” Gaara asked carefully.

She nodded her head. “I’m fine. Everything is just fine. Why do you ask?”

“Well, you’ve been locked in your room for days now. You haven’t snapped at anyone or called me stupid. We’re getting concerned.”

She sighed, taking a deep breath seeing the worry clear in their eyes.

“Shikamaru proposed.”

Their expressions brightened. “Temari! That’s great, congratulations!”

“We should be celebrating.” Kankurou stared at his sister curiously. Gaara was right. Something was wrong. “Why isn’t Nara here?”

“I couldn’t say yes.”

Their eyes shot wide open. “Temari?”

“Shikamaru needs to be in Konoha and I couldn’t leave you two and Suna. Who am I if I’m not Temari of the Desert?” She knew that she made the right decision. She couldn’t just leave her brothers and Suna because of something as trivial as love, right? This was the right thing to do she assured herself. But then why did her heart feel like it was tied up in knots?

They both sat next to her and she leaned into them. “Temari, I don’t tell you this often but you made the wrong choice,” Gaara told her, placing a gentle hand over hers.

“What?”

“Temari you’ve done everything for us and Suna and the fact that you felt like you had to say no to his proposal for us makes me feel incredibly guilty. You raised us, we’ll be okay no matter how far you might be.” Kankurou tried to assure her. She was so damn loyal, even to her own detriment.

“You’ve been Temari no Sabaku for a long time and you always will be her. I think that maybe you should try being Nara Temari.”

Her heart fluttered at the idea.

“If you stay here Temari, you won’t be yourself. I’d rather have you happy, and complete miles away than here and just a shadow of who you are.”

She sat there silently replaying that moment Shikamaru proposed. Rather than feeling excited and happy, it was difficult and terrifying being pulled in two different directions.

“We told him that we approved. Didn’t he let you know that?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t give him a chance. After he asked I said no and for the first time in my life I ran.” The absolute shock and brokenness in his eyes would be a look that haunted her. She wondered if she had given him some time to explain if the results would have been different.

“Well, I had a feeling something happened between you two because this self-imposed quarantine happened after you returned from Konoha so he’s actually here. I asked Kakashi to send him some documents for the alliance.”

He was there. She could fix this. She could make it right.

Kankurou wrapped an affectionate arm around her, leveling her with a soft look. She knew that he hated it but like this, it was almost as though her father was speaking to her as well.

“Trust us, and trust yourself a little more. We’ll be okay, and you more than anyone deserves to be happy. It’s obvious that you want to be with him. No matter where you are the three of us will always be bound together.”

*

**

Shikamaru rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants while waiting for the Kazekage.

He imagined this trip much differently. After he proposed he planned for them to go to Suna to let her brothers know. At this point, he didn't even know if she was in the country or if she’d let them know what happened.

Now he had to be there, his tail tucked between his legs, and let Kankurou and Gaara know that he failed to get a yes after practically begging for their approval. He approached them months ago during his last trip to Suna to ask for their blessing. He thought that if he had that she’d be more willing to say yes. He tried to tell her as such but when she’d flat out refused words failed him. When he could finally get his wits about him she had already run off leaving him kneeling in the grass alone.

The ring was heavy in his pocket. He’d tried to return it to his mother but she insisted that he hold onto it. It was technically his now. She seemed to believe that he’d have some use for it. Part of him just wanted to give it to Temari. No one else would ever wear it.

He knew that he was a masochist and despite how broken he felt he still wanted to see her. Even just to ask what he did wrong. To have some kind of closure. Her saying no didn’t seem possible. Everyone was convinced they belonged together and honestly, he thought that she believed it too.

He stood up hearing the door behind him open turning to greet the Kazekage but felt his heart stop.

“Tem.” She threw herself into his arms a teary mess.

“I’m so sorry.” She sobbed into his chest and he held her tightly.

“Don’t apologize I should have asked if you were ready or even wanted to be married. I just assumed I’m sorry-“

“Don’t, please don’t apologize for proposing to me. Do you regret it?”

He shook his head. “No. I would take that risk each and every time. Still, if you need more time I’ll give you that.“

“No, that’s not it. I’ve always looked after my brothers even when they were babies. I was content to fulfill that role for the rest of my life. To watch over and protect Suna. Then this crazy thing happened.” She couldn’t help the grin that crossed her face despite the tears in her eyes.

“I fell in love with a cry baby shinobi miles and miles away and it made me rethink everything that I wanted in life.” Her fingers gently traced over his face.

“You make me want so much more. I imagine us, raising a family, leading the Nara clan, and growing old and gray together. I got scared because I was afraid that by saying yes I would be losing who I am that I was being selfish. I think that I am gaining something more, that somehow I’ve earned this. I want us. I want to be Nara Temari”

The admission left him breathless and despite knowing she’d tease him for the rest of their lives the tears appeared in his eyes.

“Temari, the only thing I ever wanted out of life was to live it as simply and easily as I could. Loving you has been the easiest decision of my life. You will always be my fierce desert princess. I will never ask you to change but if you’re willing though, will you also be my wife?

Kankurou and Gaara watched the proposal from the other side of the door relieved when she finally accepted. It would be tough without her but the best gift that they could give her was freedom. Allowing her the space to decide what she wanted in life and who she wanted to be.

Unable to hold back their excitement any longer they burst in and gathered the engaged couple into a hug. Shikamaru trapped between them. Those invisible knots tying them together.

*

**

The Ties that Bind

Ugh.  I love this family so much!!!!!!!!  It's interesting that the Sand Sibs don't technically have a last name. So if Temari did take Shikamaru's name and became a Nara that's a pretty big deal. Okie, so I've started writing the next chapter for Stalemate.  Hopefully it will be out before the new year.  Then I need to work on Yamanaka Week stories, then I need to relax for a little lol.   

Thanks for reading and all your support my loves!!! 

[headoverheelss]

The group of ninjas ran to Hana’s body after they were free from the barrier that held them back. She was laying in a pool of her own blood. There was a gash on her side. Akito had stabbed her pretty good before Hana was finally able to stop him. 

Kakashi was having trouble breathing. Here was his pup on the brink of death because she had to sacrifice her own life to protect everybody else, to protect him. He couldn’t do this. 

Gai noticed that Kakashi stopped running with the rest of them.

“Kakashi what’s wrong?” Gai walked towards him. He cupped Kakashi’s face with his hand.

“I can’t do this Gai. I can’t watch her die.” Tears were flowing down his face.

Gai pulled Kakashi’s forehead to his. 

“Rival, I know how scared you might be right now. I know I’m terrified right now but we promised when we adopted Hana that we would be with her always. And right now she needs us. So whenever you’re ready, we’ll go over together okay?” Gai held out his hand to Kakashi. 

Kakashi took a breath. Gai was right. Their daughter needed them. Kakashi took hold of Gai’s hand and both of them ran towards Hana and the group.

Rin was trying her hardest to heal Hana but the girl’s body was mutilated beyond repair. Hana had already lost so much blood already. 

Rin could feel herself getting frustrated. This was no time to lose concentration. 

Hana was still conscious surprisingly but she could feel herself slipping away. 

“Rin..rin..” Hana’s voice was scratchy. 

“Hana! Don’t exert yourself.” Rin was using her medical voice on Hana. 

“Rin,,it’s okay. You can stop.” Hana heard the collective cry of dissent from the group surrounding her. 

Rin looked at Hana. This went on for a second before Rin relented. The medic went to stand by Obito. 

“What’s wrong! Why did you stop?” Kiba was angry. 

“Kiba. It’s alright there was nothing more she could do for me.” Hana could feel herself struggling to talk. 

Kakashi and Gai moved closer to Hana. They both knelt down by their daughter. 

“Hey pup.” Kakashi smiled sadly at Hana. 

“I’m so sorry, Kakashi.” Hana was crying. 

“No, no darling don’t cry. You have nothing to apologize about okay.” Gai took his daughter’s hand. 

“Your Dad is right pup. We’re so proud of you.” Kakashi stroked Hana’s hair out of the way. 

“Stay with me.” Hana was scared. 

“Always.” 

Kakashi’s statement was echoed by the group. 

Hana looked at every person. They all became her family in the couple of years she lived in Konoha. And she even got her Suna family back too. She took a few seconds to remember Baki. She would be seeing him soon though. 

“Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari. Promise me that you guys will take care of eachother.” 

Gaara nodded his head. Tears started to fall from his face. Kankuro gave Hana a look like he would never dare to leave his siblings. Temari held onto Shikamaru’s hand and gave a nod. 

“Lee, Kiba, and Shikamaru take care of them and treat them respectfully like I know they’ll treat you.”

The three shinobi’s gave her a salute and went over to console their partners. 

“Asuma you better treat Kurenai correctly or I’ll come back and haunt your ass.” 

“Don’t you worry, Hana. I got this one.” Kurenai gave a teary laugh. 

Hana smiled and continued to talk to the rest of the group. She told Obito and Rin that they better get married. Obito promptly turned red but promised Hana he would. Rin was already crying heavily on Obito’s shoulder, frustrated that she couldn’t save her closest friend.

Next she told Inoichi, Shikaku, and Choza, thank you for being the best adopted uncles a girl could ask for. Hinata and Shino were told to take care of eachother. 

Naruto and Kiba were told that they were her best cousins and to tell Aunt Kushina, Aunt Tsume, and Uncle Minato that she loves them. 

Hana told Tenten and Neji thank you for all the training practice they give her and she wishes them luck in whatever they decide to do in their future. 

Ino and Sakura were told that the sleepovers the three had were probably the best nights of her life. The girls all shared one last laugh.

Hana thanked Choji, Sai, and Rock Lee were told thank you for all the times they went out to eat and the cool restaurants they visited. 

Hana gave stern instructions to Sasuke about how to treat Naruto. Sasuke gave her a firm nod.

The Legendary Sannin were individually thanked for not only training Hana to her highest potential but for also being her Grandparents. Something she never had before. Lady Tsunade was ashamed of herself. She was unable to heal Hana because of damage taken in a fight earlier.

Finally there was Genma, Kakashi, and Dad.

“Genma, I really am sorry. I wish.. I just..” Hana wanted to say I love you but it got stuck in her throat.

Genma smiled at her.

“I love you forever and always. And I promise you that we will meet again and it will be like we never left each other.”

With those words, Hana felt like she wanted to stay so bad but the pain in her body was spreading and she knew it could never be.

“I’ll hold you to that promise.”

Kakashi could see the life starting to drain from her eyes. He moved to cradle his daughter against his chest.

Gai moved in front of Hana as Kakashi held her up.

“Dad and Kakashi thank you for being the best parents to me. I love you guys so much and please don’t feel any regret or guilt. This was my choice.”

Hana’s eyes were starting to close.

“It’s alright pup, we’ll be fine. Rest now, you deserve it.”

Just then something enveloped Hana’s body. Something that didn’t feel like Death bringing her home.

Bonus:

The smell of blood everywhere.

People screaming. So tired.

So very tired.

“HANA!”

“HANA!”

Hana sprang up off her bed, throwing the covers off in the process. Her brain was moving at a mile a minute.

There was war. She fought in it. She killed Akito but she was injured badly to the point were she should be dead.

Hana’s hands moved around her body checking for injuries.

so is this heaven?

The room Hana was in looked like a regular apartment. She stood up and walked to the window. 

Hana gasped. Outside the sun was shining on an intact Leaf Village. Citizens were walking up and down the streets. Kids were laughing together and playing ninja. There weren’t dead bodies on the ground or destroyed buildings. 

She took one step back from the window.

Where am I?

[miyakosekiguchi]

Alternative Universe: Miyako Dying During Pain’s Attack

• It happened before they got married.

• It was just like any other day.

• Miyako usually hangs out with her sister Tenten and her teammates Rock Lee and Neji whenever she’s not busy with her Jonin duties.

• Today she’s delivering her letter to Gaara. They exchange letters every so often. She was on her way to give it to the messenger bird to deliver it to Gaara. The response usually takes approximately three days due to the distance between Konoha and Suna.

• Rock Lee was talking about his training session with Guy Sensei when the ground suddenly starts to rumble, like an earthquake.

• They soon realized something was wrong when the civilians ran down the streets and screaming as they grabbed on to their loved ones.

• “What’s going on?!” Tenten asked. “I’m not sure. But look!” Neji pointed at the usually blue sky that was being covered by dark cloud.

• They ran to help the nearby civilians when Miyako’s surroundings was met with darkness, dust and rubble. She managed to open her eyes to see three worried faces of her sister and friends. They also sustained non life-threatening injuries.

• “Oneechan! Oneechan! Can you hear me?!” Tenten gently kneeled down as to not hurt her injured legs.

• Miyako groaned in pain as Neji and Lee used all their strength to lift a large crumble of a nearby building. They were shocked to see her legs and her torso crushed while small shards of glass pierced her face. Blood were quickly pouring out her body and streaming out of her mouth as she struggled to breathe.

• “Miyako-san, stay with us!” Lee exclaimed as tears started streaming down his face.

• “L-Lee... I... I don’t think I can...” She struggled to lift her arm that was also crushed by a small but heavy debris. “Please... take this... to Gaara.” She struggled to speak as she clutched her would-be delivered letter to the Kazekage. Tenten took it gently from her hand; as she did, Miyako’s arm fell almost lifelessly to the ground.

• “Mi-Miyako... oneechan...” Tenten’s eyes started to sting as tears threatened to well up.

• “I’m sorry... Tenten. But... I guess... this is it...” Miyako’s voice faded as her eyes slowly shut to never be opened again.

• Tenten furrowed her brows in anger and gritted her teeth so hard she felt it would break. Then she started crying hysterically.

• “You cannot do this! This isn’t the time! You weren’t supposed to leave me! You’re the only family I have left. Ever since we lost our parents when we were eight, you’re all I have! My family by blood! How the hell will I live my life without you?! I can’t do this! I fucking can’t!” She shouted as tears started pouring down her cheeks like Niagara falls.

• Neji placed his hands on Tenten’s shoulders in comfort as she continued to shake and sob at the loss of her only family member she has.

——————————————————————————

• Gaara grew worried when he got word that the Akatsuki assaulted the Leaf Village. As Kazekage, he knew he can’t go out whenever he’d like—other than Kage business. But he didn’t care as he ran out with Kankuro and Temari following them to make sure everyone in the village is okay, especially Miyako.

——————————————————————————

• Miyako opened her eyes to a dark surroundings. She slowly got up and rested on her elbows and noticed her legs are intact and not in pain.

• “Wait... am I really dead? Did I really leave my sister all alone?” She spoke softly to herself.

• As she slowly got up, she started walking and stopped suddenly as she saw two figures facing each other.

• “Wait, they looks familiar...” she thought as she got closer.

• “Um... hello?” The two figures turned and Miyako gasped as she was met with faces that she hadn’t see since she was a kid.

• It was her parents.

• “M-Mother?! Father?!”

• Her mom happily gasped as she squeezed her daughter, while her father watched with a smile on his face.

• “Now, now, dear, you’re suffocating her,” her father spoke up as her mother released her while Miyako was taking large breaths clutching her chest.

• “What... What happened?” Her parents’ joy of seeing their daughter was quickly replaced with sadness as they recounted the moment the village began to shake to the moment she took her last breath to the moment she encountered them.

• “Oh... So I guess this is really how it ends,” Miyako said sadly.

• “We were hoping you could live a good long life with Tenten,” her father said as the three sat down.

• “But when you’re a shinobi, it can’t be guaranteed. I’m sorry we left you both so early,” her mother added.

• Miyako sighed. “No, it’s not your fault. Tenten and I realized as we got older that it’s the price of being shinobi. We did have our neighbors check in on us every once in a while.”

• “That’s good,” her father smiled.

• “So... tell me more about the Kazekage you’re speaking to.” Miyako’s face quickly turned red as her mother smiled teasingly.

• “Mother!” She hid her face in her right hand in almost embarrassment.

• “No it’s alright, we’re glad you’re speaking with someone,” the older woman assured.

• “I mean... Tenten does have an eyes on Neji,” Miyako said as she tugged on her shirt collar. Her parents both laughed.

• They spend the next hour talking about how they grew up without a parent, about the constant unrest with wars between shinobi, and about their current life before a green line suddenly struck the young Jonin. She stood up.

• “What’s this...” Miyako asked quietly as she was consumed by a mysterious power.

• “Oh! Looks like it’s not your time yet. You’re still needed in the village,” her father said as his eyes followed the green line.

• “Please, take care of your sister. She must be freaking out right now,” her mother added as they both stood up as well.

• “I’m really glad I got to see you,” Miyako smiled warmly.

• “Me too. Take care,” her father replied.

• “Bye! We will meet again!” Her mother said enthusiastically as they waved her goodbye.

——————————————————————————

• Miyako’s eyes flung open and as she blinked several times to adjust to the brightness. Once she did, the first thing she saw was Gaara’s face, as well as Kankuro, Temari, Tenten, Lee, and Neji.

• “She’s waking up!” Kankuro gasped as Miyako slowly sat up. “Alright everyone, give her space!”

• Gaara, usually not once for physical affections, especially in public at that, quickly grabbed her in a tight hug.

• “I-I thought I lost you,” Gaara whispered as he sobbed. Miyako’s heart broke at the thought of poor Gaara losing her.

• “It’s alright, Gaara. I’m here,” she said as she wrapped her arms around him.

• Tenten smiled gleefully and relaxed into Temari’s arm, who had been hugging her as the weapon expert was consumed in emotion.

• “I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE ALIVE, MIYAKO-SAN!” Lee exclaimed in pure happiness as tears rolled down his face.

• “It’s good to have you back, Miyako-san!” Lady Katsuyu said happily as she crawled backward off Miyako’s stomach.

• Miyako smiled as she rested into Gaara’s shoulder. “It’s good to be back.” She turned to Tenten. “I saw our parents.”

• Tenten smiled. “What did they say?”

• Miyako smiled back. “They told me to take care of you.”

[justabrazilianwriter]

The Request (SHIKATEMAWEEK 2020 - DAY 2)

It is past midnight here in my country (it’s past 2 AM, actually), so technically it is the second day of ShikatemaWeek. My contribution to the best Naruto couple is this little fic that has been hanging around my mind for months and that I only now saw an opportunity to put on paper. It is also published in Ao3. It is my first Shikatema fic, so I hope you enjoy it! 

DAY 2: Marriage  

SUMMARY: Shikamaru wants to propose to Temari, but his fears prevent him. A conversation with Gaara changes his perspective.

 (2338 WORDS)

English is not my first language, so I translated this story through the google translator. If you find any grammatical or concordance errors, please let me know!

There was something extraordinary about watching Temari at Suna's sunset.

Shikamaru was always taken by this thought whenever he ended up being honored by fate, that allowed him to visit and see her in that position.

Temari was in the distance, on one of the hills in the landscape, with the wind on her face and the color of the sky mixing with the tone of her golden hair. Her arms and hips were supported by her huge fan and she had her head tilted slightly to the side.

She shone like gold, with her feet buried in the sand and her eyes fixed on the horizon. She seemed to have been made by and to that place. She looked like she was home.

And that thought, as extraordinary as it was, brought him enormous pain in his chest.

Because seeing her there, so at home, so comfortable, so in love, made his wishes seem even more selfish. His dreams for the future seemed silly and unreachable. The small box he had carried in his pocket for weeks seemed to weigh five hundred tons.

How could he ask her to leave that place? Leave her land, her people, her place in this world, because of him?

Shikamaru thought, when the idea of marrying her seemed more important than breathing, that maybe he should be the one moving. Why should it be Temari? He could go to Suna. He could move to her house, become part of her people.

But his village was gradually rebuilding after the war and his work was one of the most important of all. Kakashi told him whenever he could that without Shikamaru, it would all fall apart. And his father died. Shikaku died in the war and Shikamaru was now responsible for the Nara Clan.

And there was also his mother. She was a widow now. Shikamaru was all she had. How could he leave her? How could he get married and move on a three-day trip away, probably only being able to visit her every several months?

Shikamaru could not move from his village. But then, how he could ask Temari to do it? She had her brothers. Her job. Her people.

He was a strategist, he was the man who always had a plan and could see all the different results that his actions could cause. But, with fear growing in his chest like a poisonous plant, all that Shikamaru was able to think of were two results:

She would say no. And they would be unable to move on, their relationship would end and he would lose the woman of his life, the love of his life, his partner and best friend, forever.

Or she would say yes. But there would always be a resentment lingering between them, a pain he caused by asking her to leave everything behind. And time will pass and Temari would never forgive him and their marriage would end and he would end up alone and depressed, without her and and and...

Shikamaru's shoulders fell. A resigned sigh came from his lips. These thoughts have been prowling his mind every day for weeks. For the first time in a long time he was completely lost. There was no plan.

"The view is beautiful, isn't it?".

The voice behind him startled him. Shikamaru jumped slightly, turning quickly and facing very light eyes and a familiar face.

"Oh, Lord Kazekage" he sighed placing his hand on his chest. "You scared me".

"Sorry," replied him, giving Shikmaru an almost invisible smile. “You seem distracted. Mind if I sit down? ”

Shikamaru shook his head and indicated the empty spot beside him, on the bench he was sitting on. Gaara sat down and they both turned to Temari, who was still standing in the distance.

"She always comes here to watch the sunset," said Gaara in a soft voice. Shikamaru looked at him curiously. "I always saw her coming here every evening, since we were kids. I think that's where she likes to think”.

Shikamaru nodded, not knowing what to say. Gaara was always a distant figure for him, even though he had been dating Temari for many months. He was kind and polite, but shy and didn't speak much. Sometimes Shikamaru wondered if he was in favor of their relationship or if he thought he was worthy of his sister.

"You know, when Temari told us that you and her were starting to date, I didn't know what to think about" murmured Gaara as if he could read his thoughts. "But I know that you and Naruto are close and he always speaks very good things about you, so I trusted my sister's critical sense."

Gaara looked at Temari on the horizon. The expression on his face was calm and gentle, as was his tone.

"Time has proved to me that you are good for her" he continued and Shikamaru's heart raced in his chest. “I see her smile whenever a letter arrives or when you call. She always seems lighter every time she comes back from Leaf or whenever there is a chance for her to visit you”.

A warm smile appeared on Shikamaru's lips and he looked back at Temari again. He loved her so hard that he sometimes felt like his heart would explode in his chest.

"And I see your smile too."

Shikamaru looked at Gaara with slightly wide eyes. He gave him a small, rare smile.

“I see how you smile at her whenever you talk and how you look at her whenever she passes. It is visible to anyone how much you love her”.

They were silent for a few seconds. Until:

"That's why I wonder why you haven't asked her yet."

If it were possible, Shikamaru would have swallowed his own tongue at that moment.

"What?" he exclaimed, feeling his cheeks burn. Gaara almost seemed to want to laugh.

“Every time I see you watching her, it's like if Temari had invented oxygen. And every time I see you leave, it's like if your heart is being left with her. So it's confusing to me. I am not a person who has much experience with love, so there are many things that I don't understand. This is one of them. If you love her and it hurts not to be with her, why don't you propose? ”.

It seemed like a genuinely curious question. Shikamaru found himself speechless for a few seconds, with his mouth open like a fish out of water, trying to make his own thoughts make sense.

"It's not that I don't want to," he said softly, moving his hand instinctively to the pocket where the box with the ring rested. Gaara's eyes followed his movement. "I want to. More than anything I ever wanted ”.

And it is the truth. Shikamaru wants everything with her. He wants to see her every morning when they wake up, with her hair spread across the pillows and her bare shoulders against the sheets. He wants to hear her humming around the house, talking to his mother in the kitchen, laughing with Ino in the gardens. He wants to hear her footsteps through the halls, her voice every day, her laughter at every moment. He wants to be able to kiss her in the comfort of his home, in the comfort of their home, and see her cheeks redden. He wants to feel her skin on his fingers. He wants to hear her sighs echo in his ears. He wants to have children with her, if Temari so wishes. Small children with black hair and green eyes or blond hair and black eyes or simply blond hair and green eyes. If he can see her there, in that new life, her smile, her look, her attitude, then it is worthwhile that the future of the Nara clan does not look anything like its ancestors. 

He wants everything.

"So what stops you?".

Shikamaru understood at that moment why Gaara was a great Kazekage. He seemed to have captured him in a fog that melted Shikamaru's brain and made him suddenly want to open his heart and tell him everything he was feeling. No one could deny anything to those eyes.

"I'm scared," he admitted, so quietly that he barely heard himself. "Her answer scares me".

"Do you think she'll say no?" asked Gaara with a frown. He almost seemed to find the idea absurd.

"I don't know" replied Shikamaru looking at his hands. He needed a cigarette. “I just don't want to put her in an uncomfortable situation. I thought about it a lot and I can't leave my village. They need me more than anything right now. So asking her to marry me is asking Temari to leave her home. And I know that you and this land are all that she loves most. I'm afraid she'll say no. I'm afraid she will say yes and regret it later”.

Gaara was silent for a moment, his eyes on his sister. Shikamaru's hands were sweating. He would never expect, even in a million years, to have this conversation with Gaara. The last time he heard him say so many words was when he threatened to kill Lee when everyone was twelve.

Shikamaru knew that Gaara had changed. He might not be outgoing like Kankuro or incisive like Temari, but Shikamaru could see his personality change in his eyes and his light, rare smiles. It didn't make that situation any less strange and uncomfortable, but he decided to keep talking. He wanted Gaara to like him and he was completely lost, after all. Shikamaru was so desperate that even Naruto's help would be welcome.

"It is true that Temari loves this place," muttered Gaara. “And that she would miss the sand, the heat and us. But is also true that no one forces her to do something that she does not want to".

Shikamaru did not answer, being able to just stare at him in silence.

"I don't know if you know, but Temari was against the invasion of your village in our chunnin exams." Shikamaru looked at him, jaw slightly dropped. Gaara laughed lightly. “She was the only one to question those actions. She was only sixteen, but she confronted our sensei and said that it was not a good idea. And do you know what that proves? ”.

He looked at Shikamaru and smiled. It was the first time that he saw Gaara's smile so big.

“It means that Temari is intelligent and wise, but that she acts with her heart. If she thinks something is wrong, she speaks. If she is against anything, she acts. And if she wants to marry you, she will. It will not be a few thousand kilometers away that will prevent her from doing it”.

Shikamaru smiled, turning to Temari in the distance, looking at her with all the affection he possessed.

"Your sister is as uncontrollable as the wind," he said. Gaara laughed through his nose, affectionately.

"She is. And I think you should keep that in mind. If Temari wants to marry you, nothing will stop her. You will not force her into anything. I mean, Suna's sages try to convince her to accept arranged marriages since she is eighteen and they cannot. It will not be you who will force her to do anything ”.

Shikamaru laughed, feeling his eyes sting. Gaara's words entered his heart and were able to ease the tension in his shoulders.

"She doesn't know that I'm having this conversation with you, but if you want a sincere opinion from her brother, know that I don't believe she would say no to you" he says and Shikamaru feels such overwhelming relief going through his body that it almost burst into tears. “I think what I'm trying to say is that I understand your fear, but I believe it is preventing you from seeing her side. If you make her happy, I don't see Temari repenting in the future, for the simple fact that she didn't make that decision unless it is what she really wants ”.

His eyes burned. If that conversation didn't end he would cry in relief right in front of Temari's brother and she, if she found out, would never let him forget that.

"But what about you and Kankuro?" he asked softly. "Won't that be difficult for you too?"

Gaara looked at the end of the sunset and at Temari for long minutes.

"I got used to loving people from afar," he murmured quietly, his eyes still fixed on his sister. "I will be fine".

Shikamaru swallowed a bowling ball in his throat. And after a few seconds:

"Kankuro, on the other hand...".

Shikamaru groaned sadly. Gaara laughed.

"Oh Lord, he will kill me" he cried.

"Kankuro likes you," said Gaara. “He will be happy. It will just be more difficult for him. He and Temari always had each other ”.

Finally, he chuckled.

“Besides, you can always have a child and call him Kankuro Junior. It will make him forgive you” he joked and the fact that it was Gaara, there, making jokes, made a laugh pass through Shikamaru's lips.

The sunset ended and Temari turned to where they were. Shikamaru saw her beautiful eyes widen in surprise and she raised her hand, waving. He waved back and Gaara stood up.

With a last smile, he murmured as he watched Temari walk towards them.

“Remember, this is not an individual thing. It is not your decision. You are a team. A very smart team to be honest. Talk to her. You will find out what to do ”.

Then he was gone, quiet as always. And when Temari arrived with her beautiful smile lighting her lips, Shikamaru smiled back and felt that the small box in his pocket didn't seem to weigh that much.

[book-shish]

Just so you know (shikatema week 2020 - Day 2)

I have not written fanfics for a long time. I have ideas with different otps but I can’t find the time to write them but I have been in an infinite genjutsu with Shikamaru/Temari pairing during this quarantine so I decided to write for the #Shikatemaweek2020 with the prompt: Marriage

I don’t own Naruto or any of its characters

SUMMARY:  What happened to Shikamaru and Temari after Naruto and Hinata's wedding?

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13625829/1/Just-so-you-know

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Just so you know

The festivities of Naruto and Hinata’s wedding is far from dying down. Temari sat silently alongside Shikamaru and his teammates as she observed the people around them. Gaara is with Rock Lee and Tenten talking about what not. Rock Lee is not much of a drinker so as Gaara so she doesn’t have to worry about her Kazekage brother. Then there is Kankuro with the rest of team 8, he is already drunk but it’s not the first time he is drinking with the Konoha nins. She knows her brother can handle himself.

The person beside her, however, was in deep thought but then he surprised her when he turned to her and spoke, "Would like to take a walk with me?"

 "Now? Hey are you already drunk Nara?"

 He just shook his head. Then looked at Ino as if relaying a message.

 He stood up and took her hand naturally as if it is already a habit.

 They went on a direction that is familiar to her.

 They arrived at the forest in the Nara compound at a serene evening. It calmed Temari a bit after a long joyful day. She is glad she can spend time with Shikamaru this way before she and her brothers get back to their village.

 It isn't the first time Shikamaru brought her there. But now it felt different…it felt different because they are not just friends anymore.

 They sat down at the porch in the shed they usually hangout. A familiar silence filled them for a few minutes. Temari spoke first, "What are you thinking Nara?"

 Enjoying the stillness the forest brings him, Shikamaru might be hundred steps ahead in his thoughts but today was different. It opened a lot of things to think about in that moment especially towards woman he is with, "I am thinking about today. I am just so happy for Naruto. He had been alone all his life and now he has Hinata," he finally replied.

"Yeah, that kid deserves all the happiness he has right. He goes on and on about being hokage. But, who would have thought marriage is one of the things Naruto would think about after the war huh? " She continued, "Naruto is unpredictable as ever. Really, how can someone feel that the person they are with is the person they want to spend their life forever?"

 Realizing her question, she awkwardly shifted. The moonlight radiates brightly so they can’t hide the blush on their faces. As she was about to place her hand in her lap, Shikamaru took it and look at her. This was all new to them but then the topic of marriage is not a subject either of them have not thought about.

 “When we were trapped in the infinite tsukuyomi what was your idea of a perfect world?” he asked her.

 Her brows knotted at his random question but then remembered the dream, “Well, I dreamed that my wonderful brothers needed me and my opinion matters to them. What about you?”

 He sighed. “Asuma and Kurenei sensei were tending to a crying baby. And my mom is as usual nagging at dad. Then I thought, marriage was troublesome. And someone agreed with me.”

 “Who was it?”

 “You.”

 “Me? So your perfect world is not getting marr- ”

 "No Tem”, he cut her off, “Temari it was when I realized something. Just so you know I am in this for a long haul. I know we had been in only a few dates but we have known each other for most of our lives. You are the only girl I would go the trouble to ask out or bring here. And I'm gonna work hard to be worthy of you. Although we live three days away but you know there is already a project between Konoha and Suna. And-"

 "Shika, its unusual of you to start rambling," she teased wanting to lighten up the predicament they are in. She did not hide the joy of hearing these from him and gave him that smile he fell in love with. "Are you asking for my hand in marriage now?"

 "Hhmm, not yet,” he looked down in their interlaced hands “I am just putting this out there because there might be long line suitors waiting for you in Suna.” He also teases, “Plus, I have to ask your brothers permission first you know…before asking you."

 "How very traditional you…." she grinned.  This kinds of continuous banter and comfortable conversations they have is the reason why they work well together.

 "We're both have important positions in our villages. And I don't want to be selfish asking of you this soon to..." he trailed off caressing her hands.

 "To move here in Konoha?" she asked as if reading his thoughts.

 "Well yeah. It’s going to be a drag eventually. I don't want to cause a political rift just because I want to marry and be with the woman I love."

 "Baka," she whispered.

 He chuckled hearing this, "And that's the response I get after saying I love you. How trouble-"

 Surprising him, she leaned up and quickly kissed him. "Baka, I love you too.” She looked at him seriously with her teal eyes and continued, “Just so you know I consider Konoha as my second home now and my brothers would understand whatever decisions I make. And their opinion is what only matters to me."

 The smile he only gives to her appears on his face as if he gotten the answer to a question he has not yet asked. Then he leaned forward and kissed her, this time properly. Knowing they are in the same page and their feelings are out in the open, they can face whatever things comes their way.

  A/N: There goes my first Shikatema fanfic. Are they OOC? Please review and let me know your feedback.

[queentargary3n]

tournament for Sakura’s hand III

SasuSaku fanfic - crack canon         FF.net       Part II

Naruto took Sasuke to his newlywed home right after the end of their discussion with Kakashi. He didn’t tell Sasuke right away what his plan to “help him” was, he was sure Sasuke would try to stop him anyway, although Sasuke didn’t seem to be the jealous type, since leaving a girl who you like behind for two years when she is one of the most beautiful and popular girls of the village doesn’t actually seem to show it, his brooding friend seemed incredibly flustered. Naruto thought Sakura would put a stop to the tournament if Sasuke were to go to her and tell her about his feelings, that is for certain; but there is a part of him, a protective, brotherly part of him, that made him want to see Sasuke work for her. She had suffered so much for this poor bastard, and although it wasn’t really his fault he was always such a jerk, Naruto couldn’t help but to want to see him suffer for her, even if it was just a little bit. Still Naruto thought he needed some sort of guarantee, just in case.

Once home, he told Hinata of the situation, her adorable face went completely red, eyes rimmed with tears as she bowed before Sasuke, and started muttering fast apologies.

“It’s not your fault Hina, it was Ino’s plan, right?” Naruto explained to her and Sasuke.

“Still, I was there, I should have stopped her” Hinata said apologetically.

“Nothing you can do now,” replied Sasuke.

“Amm…. There’s something I have to do,” Hinata mentioned rapidly, remembering something she could and would have to do. “I’ll be back… please make yourself at home Sasuke-kun” She grabbed a sweater and headed out the door before explaining.

She hurried to the Hyuga Estate, looking around for Neji. He had mentioned his intentions of participating in the tournament, for which she was glad before, she always thought Sakura would be a perfect match for Neji, even when she understood the feelings she harbored for Sasuke. But now that she knew Sasuke had feelings for her as well, she had to stop him.

“You can’t participate in the tournament!” She told him when she found him training in the Hyuga dojo.

“Hinata-sama…” He bowed before his cousin in greeting as it was expected of him in the Hyuga clan.

“Sasuke-kun… he is back in the village, and he has feelings for her too and –“ She tried to explain, but was interrupted by Neji.

“So what?” He asked. “You know that I’ve always thought she deserved better than him, besides, ever since you married Naruto, Hiashi-sama has been interested in reforming the Hyuga clan, he thinks me marrying Sakura-san is the perfect opportunity for us to expand our lineage”

“But you don’t like her like that” She interceded. Neji also deserved to marry someone he loved, not just marrying for duty.

“Actually I do, ever since she healed me during the war, she saved my life, and I always thought she became a wonderfully skilled kunoichi”

“That’s just not the same…” Hinata said while fiddling with her hands.

“There’s nothing I can do now Hinata-sama… if it ends up in a battle between the Uchiha and the Hyuga I’ll just have to show that the Hyuga are the strongest in the village”

Hinata lowered her head in defeat, she will have to put a stop to his cousin herself, she thought, and there is only one way to do that.

x

“I’d like to welcome everyone to Konoha, and to this very unique tournament” Kakashi announced to the audience in Konohagakure’s main arena, using a voice enhancement jutsu. The arena was filled to capacity with spectators from all countries and hidden villages. Kakashi couldn’t have predicted this type of response, but he had to admit, this much exposure was definitely beneficial for the village’s economy. He almost felt guilty for his former student... almost. “Due to the overwhelming response in participants, we are beginning this tournament Chunnin exams style, in the Forest of Death training field #44... but before we begin, how about some words from our reason to be here today, Haruno Sakura?”

Sakura shook her head no, vehemently. She had almost died of embarrassment when Ino first informed her of her whole tournament plan, then she was forced, again by Ino, into a ridiculously extravagant and uncomfortable dress, a red, low cut dress that reached lower than any cleavage she’d ever showed before, shiny with rhinestones and sparkles and god knows what else.  She was made by Kakashi, who found her hiding at the hospital trying to avoid the whole charade, to bear witness to the madness in the Hokage podium, right in the spotlight, and now he wanted a speech?!

“Well then… let’s welcome the participants to the arena before they make their way to training field 44, come on in” Kakashi gestured and the crown erupted in applause.

Around 100 or so participants entered the area upon the Hokage’s call, in a formation, some were from varied hidden villages, others seemed not to have a ninja association.

“See the man in pelts and flashy outfit?” Kakashi whispered in Sakura’s ear, referring to man leading one of the lines of formation, tall and muscular, his long blond hair reached the middle of his back while two stripes framed his attractive face. She wondered why a man so attractive and obviously extravagant felt the need to compete for a common kunoichi. “He is the Daimyō’s son, and a favorite to win, apparently he is a boxer, and travels all around the world in competitions”

“Sensei!” she barked, upset over his enthusiasm.

Her eyes moved over the other participants, she spotted the characteristic red hair of Gaara, walking in formation flanked by his brother Kankuro and a suna shinobi she did not recognize.

“Woow the Kazekage is competing?!” she heard from someone in the audience. “Konoha took their princess, maybe their trying to take ours too” someone else responded.

“They’re calling you the Slug Princess now” Ino explained from behind her, giving her a knowingly wink.

“I thought that was just for Tsunade-sama…”

“Well as the heir of Tsunade, I think it’s fitting” Kakashi said meddling into their whispered conversation.

“But I still wonder why Gaara…” She started to ask but was interrupted.

“You’re the Slug Princess of Konoha, student of two Hokage, and a favorite to the future one, think about your status Sakura” He offered in explanation.  It was true, when put like that, but still the thought made her uneasy.

She wasn’t able to consider it for long, since next she recognized the proud stance and orange coloring of said future Hokage, leading another line of formation, and standing next to him none other than his wife…. “Naruto, Hinata… WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE!!? YOU TWO ARE ALREADY MARRIED!!!” Sakura shouted from the podium.

“Ammm…. Polygamiy is legal in Fire country!” Hinata answered, yelling atypically and blushing madly, drawing laughter from the audience and a few of the participants.

“Hinata-sama…” Neji said from where he was standing next to his cousin, face flushed as well in embarrassment, he was sure his uncle would choke if he’d heard such a statement.

Hinata knew she had to be the one to stop Neji, and when her husband informed her of his plan she knew she had to participate as well. She felt as if she was betraying Neji, but she also wanted to give Sakura the best chance possible.

“He he he I don’t know about Hinata here, but I’m here as the option that Sakura-chan marries no one” Naruto said after.

“NARUTO!” Ino yelled from behind Sakura. “You’re ruining everything!”

“Alright settle down…” said Kakashi. “I’m in charge here, and…” he added a pause for dramatic effect. “…I’ll allow it”

“Kakashi-sensei…” Sakura whispered, because although she was glad, that someone as strong as Naruto was the option to get out of this whole situation, she didn’t want to go back to where she started. Alone.

“You’ve been so distracted with all the flamboyant participants, that you haven’t noticed who’s standing in the back of the formation line” Ino whined, and subtly pointed at the raven-haired man in a black cloak. He stood last in line, and Sakura had to strain her eyes to make sure it was really him.

He was looking at the floor and then at the sky, refusing to meet her eyes as she looked at him for the first time in two years.

“Sasuke-kun is here….” She whispered mostly to herself.

“Yup, and participating for you hand in marriage, forehead!!” Ino shrieked excitedly, lightly elbowing her friend on the ribs.

Sakura couldn’t breathe, not only because the corset of her dress was stupidly tight, but because HE was there, in the flesh, in Konoha. “Ha… you know Sasuke-kun and Naruto would take any chance to show up their skills and fight each other” She waived with her hand dismissively, because it was the most obvious explanation.

“Whatever you need to tell yourself Forehead” The blonde raised her hands as if giving up. Ino didn’t want to admit to her friend just yet, this had been her plan all along. If it wasn’t for Naruto getting in the way…

Sasuke allowed himself one second to glance over at the pinkette he’d missed so much over the last two years. She looked so different from the last time he saw her, her hair was shorter and neater than he’d ever seen before, she seemed… more feminine and curvier, her waist looking ridiculously small, he wondered how it made sense that someone so dainty could break boulders with her fist. She was already looking at him when he got to her face, his gaze getting lost in those emerald green eyes of hers, a concerned smiled played lightly on her lips. Their eye contact seemed to last forever, as it always did whenever they met after a long time apart.

They mutual stare was only then interrupted by another participant’s loud declaration. “Sakura-san!!” Sasuke looked over the person responsible and spotted an Iwa shinobi screaming Sakura’s name at the top of his lungs, he looked to be much older than they were judging by the lines under his eyes. He had dark hair and a weak chakra signature, there seemed to be nothing remotely remarkable about this man, the thought.

“There hasn’t been a moment since the war that you haven’t been in my thoughts! Since that time on the tent… I know you rejected my love letter then, but if you are doing this now… it means that you no longer love the person you loved back then, so please reconsider!!”

“Morio? What…” Sakura began to question but wasn’t exactly sure how to address that confession.

Sasuke glared at the Iwa shinobi with distain. He had credited their time during the war to when he started to recognize his feelings for his pink haired teammate, and she’d been receiving love letters at the same time?! But the words of the man affected him deeply, was it true? Had she actually stopped loving him?

“Hey Bastard, say something too!” Naruto said to Sasuke, trying but failing to keep a low tone.

Sasuke moved his lips as to ask What?

“A love confession! You can’t lose to that dude!” Naruto said in his supposed whispered voice, with every participant around the two men looking listening in.

Sasuke shook his head no and muttered Shut up. He wasn’t about to proclaim love in front of an audience and a ridiculous situation like this. He as an Uchiha after all, and the Uchiha were much too cool for that.  

“Sakura-sama!” another guy shouted, producing a gigantic sign with Sakura’s name on it. “I love you!” And so, every other participant started to revolt in proclamations of love and admiration.

Has Sakura always been this popular? Sasuke thought. It seemed like something he would have noticed, although in reality he had no idea, he vaguely recalled some irritating stalker she had back in their genin days, and also Lee’s insisting confessions, who didn’t seemed to be in the participants, much to his disappointment, a taijutsu only tournament for Sakura seemed to be right up his alley.  

“If the participants could please go back to their formations and stay silent for a moment, that would be great” The Hokage spoke again, using the voice enhancement jutsu and silencing the crowd once more. “The rules are simple, to make things easier, you’ll be divided into groups of three and handed an Earth scroll or a Heaven scroll, you’ll need to obtain another group’s scroll and reach the tower with both an Earth and Heaven scroll within 24 hours to move to the next stage of the tournament, we added a few difficulties to the Forest of Death make this more Jōnin level, those participants who pass the first stage will then complete in one-to-one matches, until we find a winner, no ninjutsu, dōjutsu, genjutsu, senjutsu or fūinjutsu will be allowed. You cannot use chakra whatsoever, if any participant does, will be immediately disqualified. Please remember the proctors are watching your every move. Let’s begin!”

_______

Thank you so much if you are still reading this. Don’t forget to leave a comment with your thoughts. I really need to post longer chapters because I do want to finish this before March 28th. I’m also thinking of changing the title, I feel it sounds kind of dumb, what would you have named this fic? 

Thank you again, I hope y’all are staying safe and healthy. 

[redvoid-40]

Happy Anniversary

Happy New Year everyone!

Here’s a little something I wrote as a “spin off” / “future chapter” for the Gaara x OC fic I’ve been posting here. It’s a little everyday life fluff for you guys to enjoy! :D

Fandom: Naruto Pairing: Gaara x OC Word count: 4454 Rating: G Warnings: tiny bit of angst Categories: love, fluff, married life, family life, healthy relationships

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She’s late. She’s never late.

Gaara sat alone at his dinner table, watching the minutes tick by. In front of him there was a whole banquet displayed, one he had prepared himself.

One he had prepared for his wife. To celebrate their wedding’s anniversary. He had gone as far as asking Kankuro to take Shinki out in the city, so both could have the house to themselves for a few hours.

And she was late.

Did something happen?

More than anger or frustration, Gaara felt worry claw at his chest.

Ever since she was a Genin, his wife had been somewhat of an ambassador for Konoha-Suna relations. After the fiasco of their Chuunin Exams - a time period Gaara was not proud of, when he almost killed his wife and friend on more than one occasion -  she was one of the few Ninjas from Konoha that dared to approach him, and as such had been chosen to follow in the first talks of peace between the two villages.

Fifteen years later, she still traveled between both nations at least once a month - this month however, it was the second time. Even in times of peace like these it was important to have someone of importance present in certain meetings and agreements that took place in Konoha, and more often than not Gaara asked his wife to represent him in such matters.

As a war-hero in the Fourth Shinobi War, a dual-citizen in Konoha and Suna, wife to the Kazekage, and one of the Hokage’s best friends, she was the perfect fit.

And he knew she enjoyed it too. It gave her a chance to keep in touch with her friends, and even watch their kids grow. More than that, his wife was a Shinobi; traveling and taking missions was part of who she was. Gaara knew she wouldn’t be as happy just sitting around and being the Kazekage’s wife, she needed this as much as he needed her.

But Gaara couldn’t deny that he worried sometimes. It took his wife three days to go from one Village to another; not only there were still outlaws out there but a large part of the route was through the desert. And while he knew his wife was more than capable of taking care of herself, he still worried.

The clock hit 10:00PM. She was supposed to have arrived at 6PM.

Should I send a search party?

“Father, hasn’t mom come back yet?”

Gaara at last turned his eyes away from the clock, finding Shinki and Kankuro walking into the dining room, staring at him with confusion and some degree of worry.

“Is everything alright, Gaara?” Kankuro asked.

Gaara walked to them, laying a hand affectionately over Shinki’s head. “Your mother is a bit late is all. Why don’t you go upstairs and get ready for bed? I’m sure she’ll get here soon.”

Shinki looked like he wanted to argue, but nodded his head and left. When he was out of sight, Gaara turned to Kankuro.

“Kankuro, please gather a reckon-team. I’m worr-”

Before Gaara could finish, the door was slammed open, making both men rush towards the entrance. Standing there, backpacks on the floor and bend over herself with hands on her knees was his wife. She was shining with sweat, and having a hard time trying to catch her breath.

Other than that, she seemed completely fine.

Gaara felt some of his worry turn into indignation.

---

Shin wanted to die. She couldn’t believe she had arrived home so late, on the day of her wedding anniversary nonetheless.

I’m so stupid. How could I be dumb enough to take a nap while waiting for the sun to go down a bit? Of course I’d oversleep! Don’t I know myself? I’m so stupid!

“I-I’m so sorry.” Shin wheezed, raising big brown eyes to Gaara. Her husband stood a few feet in front of her, staring at her with narrowed eyes. “I know I’m late, Gaara. I’m so sorry.”

“Shin! Are you alright?” Kankuro asked, walking towards her. He made to lay a hand on her back but thought better of it. Shin couldn’t blame him for it; she was dripping with sweat. “Did something happen on the way here?”

Shin glanced at Kankuro and felt her face burn in shame. “I-I… I overslept.”

There was a pregnant pause. Shin looked down at her feet in shame as Kankuro’s eyes went back and forth between her and Gaara; the grimace on his face speaking volumes at how uncomfortable the situation had just become.

Gaara didn’t say anything; sea-foam eyes that betrayed absolutely nothing fixed on his wife.

“I-I’ll go upstairs, leave you two alone for a bit.” Kankuro said, already halfway up the stairs.

Shin watched Kankuro go before moving her gaze back at Gaara. She put on a nervous smile on her face as she walked to her husband. “Gaara, I’m-”

“Dinner’s on the table. You can help yourself out.” Gaara spoke coldly, turning his back to her. Shin’s eyes were wide as she watched him walk to the front door and put on his shoes. “I’m heading back to the office.”

“Gaara, it’s past 10PM. Surely it can wait until tomorrow?”

“I took the whole afternoon off, so there’s a lot of paperwork left-over. I’d like to at least get something done today.”

Shin’s eyes were already brimming with tears. “Gaara, please. I’m sorry I’m late but we can still do something. Ah! I brought you a present! I’ve been after it for a few months now, and Ino-chan managed to…”

Shin’s voice trailed off as she looked down at her luggage. There was her backpack, a side bag and a large water bottle.

But there was no present.

What?! I had it with me! Did I put it in my backpack?

Immediately Shin grabbed her backpack and started to rummage through it, stopping for a moment to dry unshed tears on the back of her hands. “I-I had it with me this morning! I’m sure of it! I-”

Gaara sighed at the display, as if it was too painful to watch.

“I’m going Shin. We’ll talk later.”

Shin opened her mouth, but the door had already closed behind Gaara.

-----

After that, Shin hadn’t dared to touch the food Gaara had prepared for them, putting it all away in the fridge as quickly as possible, feeling her guilt eat at her inside out.

It must’ve taken him the whole afternoon to prepare all of this. He didn’t even leave any dishes in the sink.

Drying unshed tears on the back of her hands Shin dragged herself upstairs, ready for a cold shower and hours awake, waiting for Gaara to come back. Before going to her room, Shin dropped by Shinki’s, opening the door just a bit to peek at her son.

Of course, he was wide awake.

“Mom?”

Putting a smile on her face Shin walked in Shinki’s room, bending down to plant a kiss on his forehead.

“Why aren’t you asleep, darling?”

The boy sat up in bed, shrugging. “Uncle Kankuro took me out tonight and we just came back. Also I was hoping to see you get home. Why were you late today?”

“Sorry about that… Remember that Inn I told you about? The one built on an oasis a few hours from here?”

“I know. It’s a traditional stop on the way from Konoha.”

“Well, I stopped there for an early lunch and to wait for a couple of hours until the sun dropped down a bit. And… well…”

“You fell asleep and didn’t wake up.” Shinki concluded, staring at his mother with a raised eyebrow.

Shin blushed, smiling awkwardly at her son. The boy knew her far too well, just like his father.

“Yes… I’m really sorry for being so late.”

Shinki shook his head, reaching out to grab one of her hands in both of his. Shin’s forced smile softened to something true as she dropped to her knees by her son’s bed, careful not to let her sweaty body come into contact with his clean sheets.

“It’s okay. I’m just glad nothing happened. Father looked really worried when we got back.”

The woman nodded and kissed her son’s cheek, chuckling when he pulled away slightly. “I’m sorry mom, but you’re smelling.”

“That will do it. In going straight to my shower now. You go to sleep now, alright?”

“Alright. Goodnight.”

“Sweet dreams, darling.”

---

Shin took her time in the shower, hoping with everything she had that by the time she left the bathroom Gaara would be waiting for her in their bedroom. 

But all that met her was an empty bed and the accusing clock.

00:17AM

Shin sighed, pulling a strand of her hair to twirl around her fingers. She always did that when she was particularly anxious about something. Her eyes were already filled to the brim with tears.

Is he still mad at me?

This was uncharted territory for Shin. Sure she and Gaara had had a few disagreements before, but they never lasted more than a few minutes; and they certainly have never gone to bed angry at each other before.

I’m not gonna let this happen.

Swallowing her tears, Shin dropped her towel and quickly put on her civilian clothes before rushing out of the house.

She had to take her report back to the engineer from Kaminarimon Company anyway. might as well drop by her husband’s office on her way back, right?

---

Shin knocked softly on the door to Gaara’s office before peeking inside. Surely enough, Gaara sat at his desk, a small mountain of finished paperwork on each side.

Unfinished on the left, completed on the right.

Shin couldn’t help but smile. It was such a familiar scene; it was comforting in a way. She had lost count how many times she had come to his office late at night, bringing him dinner or just some freshly brewed tea for them to enjoy together before she found a way to drag him back home.

“Gaara?” Shin called softly, allowing herself to walk inside, until she stood in front of his desk. “Aren’t you coming home? It’s past midnight.”

Gaara didn’t raise his eyes from the sheet of paper in front of him. “I still have a lot of work to do.”

Shin put on what she hoped was a warm smile on her face. “You seem to have done a lot already. Surely it can wait until-”

“Until I’m done with overlooking my responsibilities?”

Gaara’s voice was calm and low, but his words were still enough to bite. Shin felt her whole body flinch as she lowered her gaze to the floor.

“Gaara…”

“What even caused you to be so late in the first place?”

“I… I stopped by that Inn - the one in the oasis about three hours from here; I told you about it before - for lunch and to wait until the sun went down a bit. You know how hot it gets at noon. I was just so tired I thought I’d take a quick nap. I overslept. I’m so sorry, Gaara. You know I’d never do something like that on purpose. I was just… really tired.”

Again Gaara didn’t as much as glance her way. He calmly set the paper he was signing on the right pile before taking a new sheet from the left.

Immediately Shin’s hand twirled her hair as she held back tears.

“I-I will leave you alone then.” She settled, walking around her husband desk. Despite the way he tensed at her proximity Shin dared to plant a kiss on the top of his head. “I love you, Gaara.”

She left without response.

---

Gaara sighed, letting his head fall against the back of his chair. The sun was rising in the horizon, and he could see the soft glow of early morning illuminating his office. When he looked at the wall clock it accused 5:16AM.

The pile of paperwork on his left was gone.

I actually finished all my paperwork. But what for? Most of it was not due until next week.

With a depleted sigh, Gaara buried his face in his hands. Exhaustion hit him like a freight train, and he wondered not for the first time that day, what in the world was he doing in his office at such an hour?

I should be home, lying in bed with my wife. Loving her.

Gaara was overreacting, he knew that.

 His wife was late, so what? How many times had they spent birthdays and Valentine’s Day having a late dinner in his office instead of out celebrating because he had work to do? 

The only reason Shin was so exhausted and away from Suna in the first place was because he had asked her to go back to Konoha less than a week after she had returned. News had come up on the Thunder Rail dealings and there were papers that needed to be looked over and signed so the Kaminarimon Company could at last start bulding the train station in Suna. And he had asked her to do it for him.

Again.

I can’t wait for that train to be up and running. Shin won’t have to spend so many days away from home then; away from Shinki and… me.

Gaara needed to go home, apologize to his wife, and hopefully spend the rest of the morning lazing around in bed with her, until it was time for his 1pm meeting.

I should bring her breakfast in bed. Shin has never resisted the smell of fresh coffee before.

Determined, Gaara raised from his chair.

And stood still with his heart in his throat as his office door was opened from outside.

“Shin?”

The Kazekage immediately deflated when the door was fully opened, revealing the chief engineer from Kaminarimon Company, who tumbled inside with multiple scrolls precariously balanced in his arms.

“Ah! Kazekage-sama! I’m so sorry, sir! I didn’t expect to see you here so early! I received Shin-sama’s report last night about the meeting in Konoha and went straight to work. I was just going to drop these blueprints here in your office… I was wondering if we could go over them whenever you have the time?”

Gaara hesitated for a moment. His afternoon was packed with meetings, as were the next few days; while he was willing to put in late hours to go over this matter he couldn’t demand that others would stay until 10PM. 

On the other hand, he was free this morning, and the sooner he went over the blueprints and gave his “go ahead”, the sooner the construction could begin.

And the sooner Shin’s trips to Konoha would only take one day instead of three days each way. And she’ll be able to rest in the train.

Bottling up his exhaustion, Gaara sat back down and motioned to the chair in front of him.

“Would you be willing to talk about it now? Of course, I understand if you’re unable. But I have some free time at the moment so-”

“Oh, thank you Kazekage-sama! I promise I’ll be done with this as quick as possible!”

Gaara smiled politely.

Just a couple more hours, Shin.

---

It was almost 8AM when Gaara got back home. The house was silent and the breakfast dishes were still on the sink.

Kankuro must’ve left late to take Shinki to the Academy. 

Gaara smiled as he washed the couple of plates and cups that had been left there; noticing they had had waffles for breakfast. 

Kankuro could be a bit messy, but he always helped with Shinki in every way he could. And Gaara couldn’t be more thankful for it; he and Shin were often so busy, it was nice that they could count on his brother in times like these.

Once he was done, Gaara went straight to the bedroom he shared with his wife. He was too tired to get close to a stove at the moment. He’d serve her breakfast in bed next morning; right now he just wanted to curl up against his wife and sleep.

But when he opened the door, the bed was empty. Shin's side of the bed was crumpled, as if she had laid down over the covers instead of under them.

She must have had another of her insomnia episodes.

Gaara walked to her side bed and sat down on the mattress, reaching out to lay a palm over her pillow. When his skin touched the fabric he froze. It was slightly moist, as if…

She cried. I made her cry.

Confused and now slightly desperate, Gaara called out her name and checked their bathroom -  also empty -, before going back down. He was sure he had only washed the dishes from two people, and there was no coffee pot in there. Shin never left before having at least one cup of coffee.

Gaara walked through every room in the house, but only when he stepped back into the kitchen he noticed something: a little post-it note glued to the fridge.

Good morning everyone!

I had to leave early to pick up something, but I should be back before lunch. 

I’m really sorry I won’t be there when you wake up today, Shinki. But I left some waffle batter ready in the fridge for you and your uncle! :)

BTW, Kankuro, would you mind cooking Shinki the waffles and taking him to school? Gaara is still at the office doing some paperwork, and I’m not sure he’ll be back in time. =.=

Kisses!

~Shin

Gaara narrowed his eyes. She had just arrived from Konoha, what could she possibly need to-

“Gaara, please. I’m sorry I’m late but we can still do something. Ah! I brought you a present! I’ve been after it for a few months now, and Ino-chan managed to…”

Shin’s voice trailed off as she looked down at her luggage. There was her backpack, a side bag and a large water bottle.

But there was no present.

Immediately Shin grabbed her backpack and started to rummage through it, stopping for a moment to dry unshed tears on the back of her hands. “I-I had it with me this morning! I’m sure of it! I-”

Gaara’s seafoam eyes widened in realization as the piece of paper slid out of his hand. He knew where his wife was, and the knowledge made his heart twist in worry.

She was going back to the Oasis Inn, a place that was about three hours away from Suna. Knowing Shin she would’ve left just before dusk, around 4:30AM, to void the overbearing desert sun. In optimal conditions she’d be back by 11AM, a time when the sun would already be high in the sky and walking through the desert would be nothing short of torture.

But she wouldn’t be in optimal conditions. She would be tired and hungry. She’d be lucky if she was back before 1PM.

Of course, she’d be the person to run back into the desert without sleeping or eating just to recover a present.

Gaara wasn’t unfamiliar to the feeling of guilt. He had dealt with it for a long time in his adolescence and childhood. But it didn’t make it any less unpleasant.

Without taking a moment for himself, Gaara marched out his home again. He knew Shin hated when he used his status as Kazekage to give her any sort of special treatment, but he didn’t care. 

He was sending a team to find her and bring her back to him.

---

Shin was breathing hard, hands on her knees to support her weight as she desperately tried to catch her breath. She was sweating bullets through every pore of her body and when she reached for her water bottle she found it almost empty.

Deciding to save it for later, Shin put her bottle away and straightened up pulling on the straps of her backpack. She felt the comforting weight of the present inside it against her back and it was enough to get her to start moving again.

Just a couple more hours. 

One foot in front of the other, that’s all there was to it. Even if she wasn’t in prime condition Shin believed she could make it to Suna by noon.

Maybe I could pick up Shinki from school, find Kankuro and we all could surprise Gaara at his office for lunch. No, no… what if he’s still angry with me? That would just make it worse. It would be best if I waited at home for him to return. I could order food from a nice restaurant for dinner and we could all eat together. Gaara, Shinki, Kankuro and I… It’s been a while since we enjoyed a meal together.

Shin felt a smile tug on her lips; easily putting the pieces together in her mind until they made for a perfect picture. And she would focus on that picture with everything she had, instead of on the shadows slowly taking over her vision.

One foot in front of the other. That’s all I need to do.

---

Kankuro didn’t know who he should blame more for his situation: his brother or his sister-in-law. 

Amazing how love can make even the smartest people act so stupidly.

His brother would never take something so small as being late personally if it wasn’t such an especial occasion. Not nearly as much because it was their wedding anniversary - Kankuro had watched the couple content themselves with much less in such dates before - but mostly because they hadn’t been able to spend too much together. With the negotiations of the Thunder Rail going on, both Gaara and Shin were spending more time working and less time with family than either of them wanted to. 

“Kankuro-san! I see something! I think it’s her!”

Kankuro focused his attention back on the present, and sure enough there was the shadow of someone standing a few ways ahead of them. They weren’t moving as fast as Shin could though.

Actually, they’re not moving at all. 

The figure doubled over and fell to their knees. Kankuro and the Shinobi exchanged a worried glance before speeding up. As they approached, they noticed something else.

Is that... iron sand?

---

“Kazekage-sama!”

Gaara wasn’t too proud to admit he leaped to his feet when the Jonin barged into his office. No matter that he and Baki had been in the middle of something; it could wait for a few minutes.

“Did you find her?”

“She’s in the hospital, sir.”

Gaara had never moved so fast in his life.

---

Kankuro had been waiting for him at the entrance when the Kazekage marched inside, footsteps as hurried as it was acceptable inside a hospital.

“How is she?”

“She’s okay, Gaara. She was dehydrated when we found her, but nothing life-threatening.” Kankuro spoke, putting himself in front of his brother. “Calm down, take a moment and hear me out.”

Gaara was visibly agitated. “Kankuro, would you please let me see my wife?”

“I will. But you won’t be seeing only her.”

“What do you mean?”

Kankuro hesitated, massaging the back of his neck nervously.

“You see… It seems Shinki also connected the dots in Shin’s notes and figured out she had gone back to the desert. He skipped school and went to find her.”

“What.”

“He’s fine. They are resting in the same room.”

---

Gaara opened the door of his wife’s room slowly, not knowing what he would find in there. He wouldn’t be surprised if his wife, patient and kind as she was, didn’t want to see him at the moment.

It’s my fault she went back out there unready. Worst of all, Shinki ended up involved. I wonder if she’ll even let me sleep in the same bed as her tonight. She has never thrown me out before, but then again, I never put Shinki in danger before.

Drowning in his thoughts and worries, Gaara walked inside the private room and for a moment the breath was taken right out of his lungs.

The room was simple, with two beds pushed together, a bedside table with a pitcher of water over it and a small lounge area by the window, with a table and two chairs around it. The soft orange rays of sunlight that sneaked through the blinds of the window illuminated the scene, giving the room a warm and calm atmosphere.

And in the centre of it all, his wife was sleeping in the bed, with their son snoring softly in her arms.

Gaara watched them, completely stunned. Not for the first time he wondered how in the world did he get so unbelievably lucky. There was a time in his life he wouldn’t dream of having anything even close to love and now he had a strong, kind, beautiful wife, and a smart, honest, hard-working son.

I love them. I love them so much.

Silently Gaara walked to their bedside, until he could reach out and gently comb his wife’s bangs out of her face.

Shin’s eyelids fluttered and slowly opened. It took her a moment to focus on him, but when she did, her reaction was nothing like Gaara had imagined.

His wife looked at him and smiled.

“Did you get your present?”

Gaara blinked. “Huh?”

Shin’s brown eyes danced to the table by the window, and Gaara followed with his gaze. Standing there, alone and unassuming, was a small pot plant. It was a small cactus, barely as big as a fist, with a peach-fuzzy exterior and a yellow flower crown on top of it.

Gaara’s seafoam eyes widened at seeing it.

“It’s a Parojia cactus.” Shin whispered, carefully laying a hand on Shinki’s ear as not to awake him. “Ino-chan found one in the wild a couple of months ago and managed to grow a couple in her store. She told me there’s an estimate of less than a hundred growing in the wild, and even less being cultivated in private.”

“Shin…”

“They are hard to maintain. She even gave me a list of orientations. It’s a bit tricky, but I’m sure it’ll thrive as long as you’re taking care of it.”

Gaara could only stare at his wife, stunned. However, his wife took his silence the wrong way, and her smile faltered.

“Gaara? Did you… not like it?”

The man blinked once, before a warm smile pulled on his lips and relieved Shin of her worries. He bent down at the waist and touched his forehead to hers.

“I love my present. I love you.”

[orlha]

Title: Haru no Tani (A Valley of Haruno) Fandom: Naruto Genre: Family Characters: Haruno Sakura Triggers(s): – Rating: G Additional Tags: AU Summary: Where the Haruno Clan does have a kekkei genkai, except it's a useless one and everyone forgets it exists, until it becomes relevant.

AO3

Sakura had grown up with lessons that she was a Haruno, Harunos are the trees and the earth and that Harunos never married out.   

Contrary to Konoha’s belief, the Harunos did have a kekkai genkai. It just wasn’t useful in battle and in the days of the old, the Harunos were revered. They fertilized the earth when they died, blooming into pastures and trees, orchards heavy with fruits. Vegetation that would continue to bloom and grow decades even after their deaths. 

Now with the event of chakra and jutsu, the need and reverence for a person’s death had been significantly diminished.  Why feed and wait for a person to age and die when you could pay a shinobi to do the same regularly? 

So the Harunos adapted. 

Instead, they bought a large plot of land and when they died, they would plant their bodies there, fertilizing the land and selling fruits and vegetables from it. 

The Harunos became simple merchants. 

The day Sakura insisted on becoming a shinobi, was the day she had a tattoo inked onto the small of her back. 

History had largely forgotten them and the Harunos wanted it to stay it that way. As long as no one released her seal, she would not turn into earth when she died. That was their own requirement. 

Of course, all that changed when the Chuunin Exams happened. 

It was assumed that the Harunos had been forgotten. The Suna clearly did not. 

✥.✥.✥ 

“Let go off the boy,” Sakura growls at the strange kabuki painted boy. 

“Ha— Haruno?!” the boy splutters.  

“I apologise on my brother’s behalf if the kid was one of yours Haruno-sama,” the blonde girl with twin pigtails says nervously. “Kankuro!” she hisses at her brother and he quickly sets Konohamaru onto the floor. 

“So— so sorry for this!” Kankuro stammers, bowing as his sister drags him away. 

“I didn’t know you were a big shot,” Sasuke says when the two siblings vanish from sight. 

“Ah—” 

I didn’t know either, was what Sakura really wanted to say. Also, she would definitely need to report this to the clan elders. 

✥.✥.✥ 

In retrospect, as a shinobi, Sakura should have planned for eventualities where she would be interesting to other shinobis.  

Sakura’s a Haruno. Harunos are considered civilian in the fire country region. There is literally no one who would kidnap them for any reason — maybe except for that merchant clan in Iron. 

So when she found herself on the back of a Suna shinobi, Sakura is completely embarrassed by her first reactions. She did not act like a genin or even as shinobi in training.  

She had, instead, screamed “Pervert!”  

Sakura states several times in her report later, that it had been a reaction to someone grabbing her butt and legs. Kakashi-sensei later ups her evasion training.  

Kakashi-sensei is also confused why a Suna-nin would attempt to kidnap his civilian student. Neither Kakashi nor Sakura realises until much later when Gaara becomes the Kazekage that Harunos are a legend there, thought to have died out in the warring era. 

The Harunos are worshipped in Suna. 

✥.✥.✥ 

“Why are you worshipped?” Shikamaru asks Sakura months after Temari had revealed the Haruno religion in Suna. ‘You’re civilians,’ he doesn’t say. He can’t figure out why and neither Temari nor Kankuro would say why. 

“Would you like to see why?” Sakura says as she moves her gold general across the board.  

He nods and counters her move. “Tsumi.” 

Sakura had been lasting longer against him. With more practice, she might even become as good as a Nara. 

“Next week, Thursday. Wear something formal and come over at four pm. Don’t be late.” 

The requirement of wearing something formal is ominous enough to rope Ino into joining him. Shikamaru knows with the right buttons, Ino would be curious enough and he is right. 

“What kind of situation would we even need formalwear anyway?” Ino grumbles the entire way to the Haruno compound.  

They arrive precisely at four on Thursday. Both dressed in their formal black kimonos. Sakura definitely not wearing formal black kimono, instead she, her aunt and probably nephew are all wearing bright red qipao. 

Sakura rises from her seiza, giving them a formal bow as the little boy ushers them in, fetching their geta and offering guest slippers.  

“Nara Shikamaru, heir to the Nara Clan, Yamanaka Ino, heir to the Yamanaka Clan, Haruno Sakura, heir to the Haruno Clan greets you. You are welcomed here,” Sakura greets.  

They stiffen. Shikamaru had never known Sakura was a clan heir. It’s likely because the Harunos were… are… civilians?  

Shikamaru is actually not sure anymore. There has to be a reason why a whole village would worship them and attempt to negotiate the Harunos setting up a branch in Suna during the diplomatic meetings. 

“What is going on?” Ino hisses to Sakura when they are alone in the hallway. 

“Shikamaru asked to see why we’re worshipped. It so happens that there’s a funeral today.” 

What has a funeral have to do with being worshipped? 

“A funeral? I didn’t ask to go to a funeral.” Ino eyes Sakura’s bright red qipao then glances at the other Haruno’s funeral red qiapo. 

Ino is tactful enough to not ask why anyone would wear red to a funeral, instead follows Sakura silently down the hallways.  

“Please do not make a sound and fidget during the service,” Sakura whispers when they reach the door to the courtyard. 

Ino scoffs. “We’re clan heirs. Of course, we know not to.” 

Motioning to another little boy, Sakura pushes the boy forward. “This is Hibino. If you need anything, you can ask him. These two are Nara Shikamaru, heir to the Nara Clan, Yamanaka Ino, heir to the Yamanaka Clan. Take care of them, Hibino-kun.” 

The pink haired boy grumbles under his breath but plasters a service smile. “Haruno Hibino, second in line at your service.”  

Sakura’s words are oddly specific that Shikamaru wonders if he’s overthinking it. 

Hibino shows them to seats on the engawa. “When the procession starts, you can follow behind me. Please remain silent.” 

“We’re clan heirs too,” Ino mutters indignantly. 

Shikamaru can’t help but feel a shudder. Likely because the sun is setting. Not because of the shadows in the forest, or how wild the Haruno forest looks.  

The Nara forest has all these too. 

Sakura is upfront next to a woman wearing white at the end of the pathway. The Harunos stand along the path, holding up tiny lamps. A man wearing white carries an old woman, with blanket folded around her, in his arms steps onto the path.  

There is no sound. Not even the sound of the birds roosting as the sun sets. Not even the sound of the leaves. 

The man takes the lead, followed the Sakura and the woman in white, Shikamaru and Ino are near the last to follow.  

The forest is dim enough that Shikamaru has to circulate chakra in his eyes to see the path before him and he wonders how the other Harunos don’t seem to have a problem. They walk far into the forest, until they hit a clearing when the man places the old woman in the middle. Sakura bites her forefinger and crouches next to the old woman, drawing symbols on the woman’s face. 

“Bloom,” the woman in white says. 

“Bloom,” the Harunos chorus. 

“Into the Spring coursing through our veins.”  

Sakura stands next to the woman in white, just over the old woman.  

“Grow,” the woman in white says. 

“Grow!” the Haruno chorus, this time louder. 

“Into the fruits and trees that we partake.” The woman in white holds her arms up and the Harunos roar as Sakura presses her hands into a tiger seal. The blood on the old woman glows briefly. 

“FLY!” They scream.  

There’s a heavy silence, a pause that Shikamaru idly muses if he had just witnessed a sacrificial rite. Then a shuddering, an explosion of branches and leaves, trees and earth exploding from the old woman around them.  

Ino claps her hands over her mouth, muffling her shriek. 

The clearing turns into an overgrown forest, the dirt becomes grass, the sprouts become the trees, the trees grow fruits and dip their branches. 

All in a span of minutes.  

Almost like watching Yamato using mokuton, except these are civilians, people that shouldn’t have a kekkai genkai.  What is a civilian clan with a kekkai genkai called? Is a civilian with kekkai genkai even a civilian?  

Shikamaru watches all these and realises with horrifying clarity that even in the shinobi world, a clan with the ability to sprout fruits and trees in a matter of minutes is irreplaceable.  

How has no one wondered how the Haruno sells fruits even in the dead of winter? 

Shikamaru goes home with more questions than answers.  

✥.✥.✥ 

Sakura punches the clones into submission. How dare this Pein person attack Konoha. She punches the puppet through the wall but it still gets up.  

It’s likely that she will die today, Sakura realises. Thank the sage for the seal her clan head had forced onto her when she insisted on becoming a shinobi. At least she won’t accidentally turn land into a forest when she dies, or at least not without another Haruno’s chakra. 

Then a meteor crashes into Konoha. 

Sakura holds onto her conscious long enough to see the broken buildings transform into a valley of Sakura trees and thinks that soon she’ll join them. 

Except she doesn’t die. Not permanently that is. 

Sakura wakes up to a crater of what was once Konoha but now trees and to the knowledge that Pein had resurrected all the people who died in his attack, except the Harunos. Not the Harunos, because they had a kekkai genkai that activated when they die, converting them bodies into earth. 

If there was no body, there is no way Pein could have converted them back. 

Sakura becomes the last Haruno, the only person in a village full of people that day, to shed tears of sorrow instead of tears of relief and joy.