The Lotus and The Deer (Shikamaru x OC)

Chapter 29 - Long Enough

Hina POV

Making Naru-chan some Ramen, I'm thankful that I bought some for his home however long ago. Placing the bowl in front of him, his eyes look dead as he eats the food silently.

Eating my own, I finish it quickly so I can clean the place. Hearing the doorbell ring a couple of times, I rinse and dry my hands.

Walking over, I see Naru-chan already at the door, "Hey, Shikamaru. What's wrong? What do you want?"

"Naru-chan? Who's at the door?"

Standing behind him I smile at the sight of Shika; he quickly returns it. Letting him in, I heat up Naru-chan's unfinished ramen. The blond sits back down on the couch, making Shika a cup of tea, the Nara stares at Naruto's empty expression.

Showing him a picture of the code, he asks, "Do these numbers mean anything to you?"

Staring at them blankly, I grow worried, "Naru-chan?"

Shika shares the worry, "Are you still with me or what?"

He remains silent, making Shika yell, "NARUTO!"

He snaps out of it, smiling at us, "Oh right, sorry. So uh, what you say?"

He frowns, "Alright, you're coming with me. Come on, you two."

Naru-chan looks up at him, "To where?"

"Just come on."

Forcing him out of the house, he leads us to the hospital; seeing it, Shika and I grow excited. With a big smile on our face we watch as Kurenai comes out pregnant and all, making Naru-chan gasp. "Kurenai-sensei!"

Shika nods, "That's right."

He rushes over to her, "Were you hospitalized for eating too much barbeque! Your stomachs bigger than Choji's."

I hold back a chuckle at his mindset, Shika corrects him, "She's pregnant, not overweight. Ah boy, you're still just as obnoxious as you ever were."

He looks at us then her, "So then, you mean she's..."

She frowns a bit, "Shikamaru, you don't have to come every time. You too, Hasu, I know it's you that leaves snacks and gifts at my home."

I sweat a bit, 'At least she didn't find the protection seals I hid in her house.'

Shika smiles, "Sorry, no can do, Asuma made me promise him."

Watching her leave, Naru-chan speaks up, "What did Asuma-sensei ask you to do?"

Shika answers truthfully, "There child will be my student; he entrusted me with that. I heard about Master Jiraiya; having lost my teacher just like you, I understand exactly what you're going through right now. But whining and sulking won't make things better. Face it, both of us are way past that point of our lives."

"What do you mean?"

"Asuma-sensei imparted a lot of knowledge to me; some lessons were important, some not so much that didn't matter. The same for you, right? And an infinite number of priceless things, so I think it's time for us to step up."

"How so?"

"To stop being students and become teachers, it's going to be a drag, but we can't keep complaining eventually, you'll be the one paying for the ramen, and someone will be calling you Naruto-Sensei. After all, we can't stay brats forever, not if we want to become cool shinobi, like the type of shinobi that Asuma and Jiraiya look for."

Seeing the shine in Naruto's eyes as he smiles, I can't help but feel a certain warmth through his words.

"You're right, Shikamaru, thank you."

He looks over at me, "Thank you."

We smile at him as Shika continues, "So pull yourself together, cause you got some work to do." Showing him the picture once more, Naru-chan gets pumped up.

"All right!"

No POV

After deciphering Jiraiya's message, Naru-chan leaves to begin his Sage training just like Hasu did not so long ago. With the promise to protect the village while he's gone she see's him off. Taking it seriously, she meditates throughout the days, focusing her chakra on any unfamiliar people entering and leaving the village.

Feeling a powerful chakra closing in, she rushes to the Hokage tower, busting the door open she looks at the Hokage. "It's time."

Like clockwork, explosions spread throughout the city. Sensing the chakra natures scattered around, Hasu moves quickly. Summoning a fox, she orders it to protect Kurenai and her unborn baby while so she can protect the people. Fighting against the other summons, she comes across her first Pein, while the other ninja helps the others evacuate.

Hasu POV

Taking down three summons, I notice a blob of orange hair from afar. A Pein with two ninjas in hand, I jump down, landing right in front of him.

Noticing me, he tosses them aside making me frown, "Well, that was rude."

Doing the necessary symbols, I smirk, "Water Jutsu: Raging Tsunami!"

Drowning him in water, he remains stoic, walking forward he reaches out for me, "I'm not done yet, Lightning Jutsu: Raining Light!"

Bolts of lightning rain down on him, making him spazz out; quickly, I pull out a seal jumping over him; I slam it on his face making him fall down into a lost slumber.

Tying I'm up; I leave him behind as another explosion goes off; witnessing another Pein with his hand on Lady Tsunade's advisor's head, I rush into action. Falling high, I kick the side of his head, making him let go of her. Several feet away he gets up, seal ready, I draw my sword. Placing it on my sword, I draw some blood smearing it across the seal. A burst of flames and electricity scatter the metal blade.

Rushing quickly, I slice his head off, making his body drop to the floor as his head rolls. Looking at the village, I notice the large summoning disappearing. Cursing under my breath, I look at Ino.

"What did he do?!"

She snaps out of it, "He looked through her memory, s-she's dead."

Frowning, I feel a chakra nature in the sky; looking up, I hear his voice ring through the village, as he ascends to the sky. Seeing his figure in the sun, frowning a large light burst through the village. I shield myself from the powerful wind pushing me back.

Rubble knocks me down, pushing a large piece of wood off of me. Looking around to see the village in shambles, I gasp. Hearing a large poof, I look down to see Naru-chan appear I mumble softly, "Took you long enough."