Love and Lust

9

You sighed and sat on the Hokage desk. "Lord Naruto, you've been down all day. Is something the matter?" You said.

"So, you've noticed, huh?" Naruto said with a small chuckle. "I'm sorry, ____."

"You don't need to apologize," you said. "Just tell me what's wrong."

Naruto sighed again. "Can I just have a hug?"

"Of course," you said, opening your arms. Naruto wrapped his arms around your stomach and put his face on his boobs. It wasn't that kind of hug, even with his head placement. You could just tell that Naruto really needed some affection.

Then, Shikamaru walked into the room.

"Ah, Naruto," he said. "You alright?"

"He's been down all day," you said. "And asked for a hug."

"Shikamaru," Naruto said, picking his head up from your boobs.

"Naruto," Shikamaru said, walking over to him and putting his hand on his shoulder. "You should head home. ____ and I can handle things for today."

"I agree," you said. "You should really go home, Lord Naruto."

"No, no," he said. "I should stay here and-"

"You get like this every year on this day," Shikamaru said. "Just go take care of yourself."

Naruto sighed and begrudgingly moved his arms from around you and stood up from his seat. "If you insist," he muttered. "You two can be Hokage for the day."

"Got it," Shikamaru said.

"Please, take care of yourself at home," you urged as Naruto left the room.

You stood up from the desk and patted Naruto's chair. "You should sit, Shikamaru."

"Why don't you sit? I insist," he said.

"Oh, I couldn't-"

"C'mon," Shikamaru said. "It'll be less of a drag if you were the one in that chair."

You looked at him for a moment, then hesitantly sat down in Naruto's seat. "Well," you said, picking up a piece of paper. "There's nothing scheduled today except for giving missions and reading the reports."

"Good," Shikamaru said.

"May I ask a question?" You said.

"If I can ask one too," Shikamaru said, plopping down on the couch.

"Sure," you said. "My question is, Why does this day bring Lord Naruto so much... sadness?"

Shikamaru leaned back on the couch. "About," he paused. "14? Years ago, his teacher was killed. It was Jiraiya, one of the legendary sannin."

"Oh," you said. "That's so sad."

"Yeah," Shikamaru said. "He took it rough. Now, every year around this time just thins overwhelming sadness radiates off of him."

"I'm not surprised."

"Now for my question," Shikamaru said. "Is there something going on between you and Naruto?"

"What do you mean?" You said, cocking your head to the side.

"Um," Shikamaru said. "Just, is there something between you two? More than work?"

"I like to think we're friends," you said with a smile. "Lord Naruto is very kind to me. I consider you a friend as well, Shikamaru."

"Ah," Shikamaru said, rubbing the back of his neck.