Book 2: The Three of Us

Chapter 29: Just Another Day in Konoha

Paper work. An unending pile that never seems to get smaller. If you were told how much paper work was involved with being Hokage - or even for acting Hokage - no one would want the job. Leaving it out was clearly how they pulled people in and trapped them in this office forever. Sun rise to sun set was nothing but paper work. Even when I close my eyes, all I can see is paper work. 

Looking to my right, Shikamaru is sitting crisscross, completely surrounded my paper work. For the last hour he had been diligently sorting the building request, each pile designating it's level of importance. A meeting earlier in the week had determined that civilian and shinobi housing would be top priority, after that continued building of the current temporary hospital set up, next the shopping district so we could get the economy back up and running again, and lastly the clan compounds. 

Shikamaru has only been my assistant for a few days now but he's already proven himself multiple times. When faced with the supply issue of stone materials for building, he suggested that we get all available shinobi with an earth affinity to work alongside the builders. To add to it, he even said it would be more cost effective to have the earth affinity shinobi use the rubble from the old buildings as a base for the new material. And with that, the added bonus of a reduction of chakra usage, allowing our shinobi to work longer without suffering from severe chakra exhaustion. 

He also suggested that we consider the average population growth per year to help determine how to set up the village in a way that it can efficiently expand. Especially when it came to deciding where to build the housing districts. While we would all forever miss the chaotic set up of the village before its destruction, it was clear that the founders did not plan for the village to grow so much so soon. Population growth had been quick after the second shinobi war and expansion was done inefficiently simply because the very set up of the village was flawed. Now, we could solve that problem and make sure it wouldn't happen in the future. 

Letting out a quiet laugh, I watch as Shikamaru dozes off sitting up, something only a Nara would be able to do so effectively. Crumbling up a scrap pieces of paper, I throw it across the room, hitting him right on the head. Eyes fluttering half open, Shikamaru sits up a little straighter, lets out a long breath before continuing the sorting. When the crumbled paper gets in the way, he flicks it over to the corner where a growing pile of them could be seen. 

A knock has me sitting up straighter in my chair as my gaze moves towards the door. Clearing my throat, I say, "Come in." 

A frazzled looking chunin steps into the room, clearly wishing to be anywhere but here. He gives a quick bow before speaking, "Itachi-sama, I apologize for bothering you while you are busy but there is something important the aviary division needs to report." 

My eyes crinkle in amusement when I realize that the chunin is probably new to the aviary division and got saddled with the task that no one wants to do. Gesturing with my hand, I say, "Continue." 

What he says next has me letting out an exhausted sigh, and repeating what he said for my own clarification, "You're telling me that the reason you are here is to report that someone keeps using the Hyuga Clan's personal messenger hawk without the clan heads knowledge and that no one can figure out who it is?" 

The young chunin fidgets uncomfortably, unable to keep his gaze from the ground as he speaks, "That's right." 

My brow nits together in thoguht, "And you're worried that it might be a security concern?" 

Giving a nod of confirmation, he says, "Yes. That's right." 

"I'll look into it-" I say, quickly being interrupted by a loud yawn from Shikamaru. 

The unnamed chunin and myself look towards him, neither of us amused by his obvious interruption. Standing up his knees crack loudly, slouching, he gestured lazily with one hand, "I'm going for a smoke break. Be back in ten." 

:::

Later that day: 

Despite the chance of there being a security issue involving the mysterious usage of the Hyuga Clan's messenger hawk being relatively low, I still felt I should at least check it out. Well, more accurately, I was trying to relax before bed and I just couldn't because this was bugging me. But that's entirely besides the point.  

Masking my chakra, I lean against the side of the building, hidden between the aviary and academy, waiting and hoping to catch who ever it is. Three chakras, muted but not completely masked make there way up the stairs and onto the roof where the hawks sleep. When I realize just who it is, I shake my head in disbelief. Flickering in front of the trio, they jump back in surprise, "Naruto, Shikamaru, Hinata. Care to explain to me why you've been using the Hyuga messenger hawk?" 

In her shock, Hinata lets out a high pitched screech that she quickly silences by slapping her hand over her mouth. Naruto's face pales as he frantically looks for an escape route and Shikamaru looks like a kid being caught with his hand in the cookie jar. 

Waving his arms around frantically, Naruto blurts out, "Hey, I swear we're doing nothing bad. We're just sending some private letters, ya know." 

Crossing my arms, I say, "With a hawk you're not supposed to be using?" 

Naruto's voice comes out two octaves higher than normal and sounding more like a question then a statement, "It's the only one available?" 

Looking between the three of them, I ask, "Who's idea was it?"

Hinata raises her hand hesitantly, stuttering as she speaks, "It was mine. Please don't punish Naruto and Shikamaru." 

Shikamaru shakes his head, "It was my idea just as much as it was yours." 

I raise my eyebrows in surprise. Hinata and Shikamaru were the masterminds behind this plan and Naruto was just going along with it. That's unexpected. 

Crossing my arms across my chest, I ask, "Who have you been sending the letters to?"

"Temari," they all say in unison. 

Rubbing my forehead I shake my head in disbelief, "All of this so Shikamaru can talk with his girlfriend. You three are ridiculous." Amusement fills me when I can see Shikamaru's face flush in embarrassment. 

"Actually, Shika hasn't asked her out yet, so they're technically not dating," Naruto corrects, looking entirely way too proud of himself when he does. 

Who knew being acting Hokage was going to be this ridiculous? I guess it's unavoidable when you live in a village with an Uzumaki. They someone influence everyone with their ridiculous shenanigans. And this is what I'm losing sleep over? Ridiculous.