Staged

Fourth Stage: Layers

Naruto and Shikamaru were promptly separated by the groups. Shikamaru was away with Choji, Ino, Shikaku and Inoichi and he was left with the current team7. Looking back at things Naruto wondered how he stayed loyal for so long to this village with all the underhanded things they did. Just because Naruto seemed alright didn't mean he was. He still felt guilty about that night eight summers ago.

The night he set his sights on the former Nara now Namikaze. He raped him, broke him mentally and coerced him into coming with him to who knows where. After that he did everything to heal the other and he's mostly the same as before but he still clung to Naruto but that was the least.

Naruto liked when his wife hung off his arm. He would accept Shikamaru no matter what personality traits he displayed. But the fact that such a disgusting experience created this clingy aspect of his wife that he loved made him disgusted with himself. So he resigned himself to whatever punishment Kami-sama might give him in the after life. For now he'll take all the joy in the life he has now.

"So Team 7, how's life?" Naruto asked, he looked down at Sarada and Inojin. "With how bleak Sai is I didn't think he could lock on with Ino." Then he chuckled.

"But Sakura Uchiha, you rode him until he gave you that name. Who knew you'd actually marry the bastard that actually tried to kill you at one point. That's either some demented thought process or real love. In this case the demented thought process won." Naruto saw the tick in Sakura's forehead and when she raised her hand and Naruto was hit with so many memories of the past.

'But this isn't the past, I'm beyond this. This is just pure utter bullshit.' Naruto thought before snatching her hand and snapping it out of instinct. Sakura yelped and tried to pull back but Naruto had a strong grip. 

"Sakura-chan you seem to be under the illusion that we're comrades of sorts." Naruto glared at her. "You'll do well to know your place." He released her and placed an arm around Sai who he was taller than now. 

"You've grown Naruto." Yamato commented as he admired the blond's height of 6'7. Naruto smirked at the compliment.

"Why waste time on me, I have nothing to offer you guys." Naruto said looking around the developed village. "I wonder what trap my mayhems have set, the poor souls."

"That's what I've been meaning to ask you," Sasuke perked up after checking his wife's wrist. "Have you started training your kids?" 

"Of course can't have them stunted." Naruto said and looked down at Inojin and Sarada. "Judging by those chakra reserves you guys aren't even starting. Is it because we're at peace?"

'Won't last long either way,' Naruto thought with some self indulgence. 

"How about a training session for old time's sake." Yamato said trying to ease the tension. Naruto got a serious look on his face. 

"Sure but I'll probably bash you guys in the ground." He chuckled, he formed a Rasengan and condensed it. "Let's see how well you do."

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Shikamaru looked around his childhood home with a look of cool detachment. He doesn't miss it and he certainly doesn't want to get attached to this former lifestyle again. Naruto treated him like a Queen and their kids as princes, he wanted to keep it that way. When he was traveling with the blond he made everything excitable and he got to enjoy a lot of different cultures. And when he got pregnant it was a jolt to his system.

He didn't think it was possible until Naruto practically yelled it in his face after he tried training at one point. Naruto didn't want his children to have a nomad lifestyle and Shikamaru agreed. They needed a stable home and Naruto decided they should head back to the Cloud. It was easy to integrate into society. Naruto built their house from the ground up and even crafted the furniture. 'Really an adoring husband.' He thought as he sat in deep thought and sipped some tea.