The Sun and the Moon (BL)

Chapter 3

"How are you, Shikamaru?" Naruto didn't want to say it, but the man looked like death on legs. The black bags under his eyes only served to emphasise his otherwise pale skin. "Have you been sleeping, like, at all?"

All he received in reply was a long sigh. Shikamaru sat by the booth at Ichiraku, heavy head supported by his hand, as if the world's entire weight rested inside his head. Naruto knew that Shikamaru worked a lot, but this was more than overworking. He looked as if he hasn't gotten any sleep for the past few days.

"I've been working a lot, that's all. What else could it be?"

"So it's true! You do answer a question with a question if you're lying!" Temari was right, as always when it came to Shikamaru. She knew him as well as the back of her hand; could navigate him as easily as she could the desert she grew up in. He couldn't hide anything from her.

When she last visited, nearly a month ago now, for the Five Kage Summit, she was worried about Shikamaru. He was already overworking himself at that point, but no matter how much she tried talking to him (or nagging), he would not budge. Instead, she approached Naruto to ask him to try and speak some sense into the head of the Nara clan. Even up to this day, Naruto wasn't sure why she asked him, of all people. While the two were close friends, possibly even best friends – Naruto hoped that Shikamaru considered him one as well – but Naruto knew that the other had two people that he was closer with, and in the end, he might not make the cut.

"No one's been the same since the war ended. A lot happened, too much, in a span of two days. But I'll be fine soon, I just need to get back into the flow of normal life." Shikamaru was hesitant. Unsure of himself, or even of what he really felt. He watched his teacher die, watched so many of his friends and allies be forced to their eternal sleep. It might be the upcoming mission, but he was even plagued by his failure as a team leader from so many years ago.

Every time he closed his eyes, he'd be able to see them all lying, half dead, on operation tables. Neji with a whole the size of Akamaru in his chest; Choji who had lost so much weight and burned himself out; Kiba and Akamaru beaten black and blue, barely holding on, and yet, Shikamaru made it out in a much better condition than any of them. But those weren't insecurities that he was comfortable, or even willing, to voice out. He was not willing to let them see the light of day. Unsure of why such old memories started haunting him again, Shikamaru tried to brush them away.

Naruto heard the finality in his voice, knowing that Shikamaru was not willing to say any more and he wasn't going to push him.

"How are you and Temari doing, then?" Naruto wiggled his eyebrows at Shikamaru, trying to lighten the mood up. Everyone in their friend group was aware of the looks that the two exchanged between each other every time they're together. Yet, somehow, there hasn't seemed to be any progress in their relationship. Everyone hoped that the pair wouldn't be stuck at the friendship stage forever. "Have you seen each other since the last Kage Summit?" The next one was rapidly approaching, a mere week away.

It was as if Shikamaru's face was set on fire, with how rapidly the red blush spread, even to the tips of his ears. Naruto half expected steam to come chasing out of his ears. A sly grin erupted on Naruto's face.

"Nothing happened between us!" Like an ostrich burying its head in the ground, Shikamaru hid his face behind his hands. He was never the relationship sort of person, in fact, he actively avoided them. Whether it was because the emotions he held for Temari started brewing all those years ago during the chunin exams, or if it was truly due to the fact that he preferred to laze around in his free time rather than sharing it with more people than he already did, he was unsure.

"You obviously love her, so why don't you just invite her out on a date the next time you see her?" Naruto didn't understand. The two obviously had feelings for one another, they were both confident individuals as well, so what was the problem? For some reason, they've been tiptoeing around each other every time, not getting too close but not straying too far either.

"How are your missions going? You probably have a lot on your plate." Shikamaru went back to eating, obviously not paying Naruto's earlier question any mind. The truth was, he held no confidence in himself. How can he? He's not strong enough. What's the point of being smart if you can't prevent your teammates, friends, from getting hurt? This is why he prefers to work alone. He doesn't have to worry about others, or whether they'll follow orders.

"Don't get me started on them. Kakashi-sensei is running me dry, ya know?! If I'm not out on missions, I'm doing his paperwork! How is that fair?" Naruto slurped all remaining ramen from his bowl before leaning back in the seat, satisfied. He didn't mind Shikamaru changing topics at such a rapid pace. Knowing that Shikamaru wouldn't open up until he was ready, Naruto let it go. He didn't want to force his friend, he already had enough on his plate.

"At the very least, you'll know how to and will have the experience of doing the paperwork when you become the hokage." Finishing his remaining tea, Shikamaru paid before getting up to leave. Naruto's footsteps followed behind his, their small conversations continued up until they made it to the Hokage Tower. Break time was over, it was time to return to work.

+++

"It might hurt for a while, but that's normal. It will heal faster than usual, so there shouldn't be much of an issue, just make sure to keep me updated on it. You'll be able to start physical therapy once the wound has healed. But before that, don't put any pressure on it. That means no training, fighting or even moving that arm." Sakura continued to instruct Naruto on how to take care of his new arm. Naruto listened with a keen ear, he was sure that it'll all be fine anyway, but it was better to beware in case anything did go wrong.

Even if it did, he could always come to Sakura for help. Or Kurama could help him heal the wound.

"I got it, Sakura-chan." Naruto honestly doubted that he'd be able to remember any more information.

"Remember, take a few days off and no physically draining missions. Preferably, just stay with paperwork until I give you the go-ahead."

"Ok, no missions. I've got it." He was ready to leave. The dread has already made his face numb if the constant smiling hasn't done it first.

"Just, be careful. Tell me whenever you're in pain." Naruto didn't understand. Sakura already prescribed him some pills to dull the pain, what was the point of informing her each time? He could just take the pills.

"I will, you know I don't like to worry you." If it came to it, he'll have to make sure to catch her when she's off work. He has officially had enough of hospitals for the next while.

Before he managed to leave, Naruto somehow managed to get another earful about taking care of his new arm from Shizune-san. What was she doing here, anyway? Wasn't she supposed to be travelling with Tsunade-baa-cha, anyway? Or was she here to see how the operation goes? She should've been one of the medics working on the Hashirama cells. Naruto wasn't sure, he never kept up with such news. There was no point keeping track of it all if he understood none of it, he'll probably have to learn for when he's the Hokage, though.

Naruto made his way back to the Hokage Tower so that he could finish the remaining paperwork he had for the day. While he was told to rest, Naruto figured that filling out paperwork wouldn't cause any harm. He had nothing else to do anyway, so it would be better to get ahead with the work that never seems to end.

There have been mountains of paperwork since the war ended, and even months after, there is still a lot to do. Mission requests are constantly coming in, especially from landowners who need help rebuilding their homes and property. There are still the rogue shinobi that need to be taken care of, too. While Sasuke sends any intel he finds during his travels, they are far and few in between. Majority of the time, he manages to take care of the situation himself so the intel he sends is mostly of the report nature.

Kakashi-sensei doesn't help. He disappears for most of the day and even when he is in his office, he hardly ever does his work, showing his preference for re-reading the erotic novels he has read hundreds of times over the years. Naruto should make him deal with the shinobi applications that keep coming in, now that they have finished their training.