Fear Is Not The End Of This

Chapter 5

Well this update took forever!  My apologies. I have legit excuses but none that I'll bother you with. 

There's a lemon near the end, yaoi and not yaoi.  Just lettin ya know.

Oh and I kind of twisted Sakura a bit. 

UPDATE!! As of January 9 I have pasted a missing paragraph near the end involving the KakaNaru scene that will help make that particular part of the story make so much more sense.  So sorry about that.  Chapter 6 is in the works !

Fear Will Not Be The End of This

Chapter 5

The toxic heat hitting the back of his throat felt familiar but uncomfortable, it had been ages since he last smoked a cigarette and yet he could swear there was a distinct difference between these ones he's picked up here in Kumogakure and the ones Asuma-Sensei had inhaled back home.   Dropping his head and letting out an exasperated sigh, Shikamaru let's the cancer stick fall from his mouth to the ground and extinguishes the lit cherry with the sole of his boot.  Ever the Good Samaritan he picks up his trash and dumps it in a designated tray before slowly trudging his way back into the Raikage's main building but he pauses at the door, taking another glance at the scenery beyond the buildings top, outside deck. Not only has the entire trip been troublesome he even finds this complicated-to-get-around terrain troublesome.

But not as troublesome as what he came across last night. 

He was going out of his way to visit Naruto's room as it was-he was dead tired it was a long meeting- but he's always found it quite necessary to go over things with the current Hokage more than once, just to be sure.  The sound of a running shower had him pivot, deciding he'll just wake the damn man up bright and early tomorrow...until he heard voices and Kami curse himself he stopped to listen.  Who knows, someone could have been in the Hokage's room unbeknownst to him while he showered and despite Naruto's out of this world ability as a Shinobi he still lacked in certain areas especially when in assumption that he's in a perfectly safe environment.

After a few moments of ear straining the intelligent Nara felt a familiar twitch in his right eye lid.  A sure, but very small sign of stress on a usually relaxed, if not annoyed, face.

Why is everything so troublesome.  Especially when it comes to you, Naruto...

As of now, once inside, he takes a seat on a bench situated across from the glass wall separating him from the visiting room Naruto and Bee are currently occupying.  For a brief moment he thought of joining them but even through the glass he can tell from body language that the older man still 'rap-talks' and he just does not have the patience for such none sense right now.  Opting to stare at his friend and leader, Shikamaru sits back and allows the gears to turn as he studies Naruto's facial expressions. 

Right from first glance you can tell the happiness radiating off of him is of the sort Shika himself hasn't seen in years and he's around the blonde more than anyone other than his kids and the obvious current object of Naruto's affections.  Despite how scandalous this will all end up seeming to the rest of the world- and how much work it will be for himself, the Shadow user can't help but smile in response to the infectious one on the other side of the glass.

"Yo."

Leaning back, Shikamaru props his elbows up on the top of the bench and tilts his head so he can make eye contact with his former Hokage.

"Kakashi-sensei."

Though his face doesn't show it, the sight of the older man in his renewed physical youth still blows him away.  That woman, Mina, her death was a such a waste of a useful Kekkei Genkai.  Not that he cares about youthful longevity but it had medical potential.