002

Shikamaru's

"I'll wait." Temari crossed her arms and lean against my office's wall.

She's standing beside me watching me pile the papers up. I'm still reviewing documents and reports for and from the Leaf that requires Naruto's definite attention.

"Suit yourself. I'll be done at 7, will that be tolerable?" I throw a glance at her.

She chortled and put my empty bento back on the table. Which she was ready to bring home along with her but decided to go together with me instead.

"What are you saying? I am already done cooking for dinner. We'll only have to heat it up later. And I had four dangos this afternoon." She informed me nonchalantly.

For a snack?

"Did I just remember you saying you'll be on diet the other day?" Then I tease her. "Looks like we're going fat huh," I smirked.

"Shikamaru!" She blushed and released a soft huff.

"I'm not sure maybe it's just some scene in my dreams days before." I stared at her harbouring some reactions.

"Shut up, Nara!" Temari hissed looking away.

She's hushing herself too. I didn't counter her attack and let her talk all she wants. Crossing her arms, pinching her sides secretly to check her fats.

"I only had four! God, don't remind me about that. It's stressing me out." She looked away and sulk.

I stayed silent and continued my work. She's mumbling some words I can't hear. I let out a sign and stared at her.

Dirty blonde hair, way darker than Ino and Naruto's. Her lower cheeks were disturbed as she utters under her breath. Eyelashes protecting her forest green eyes which she coldly projects.

She felt my gaze. Temari throw me a glance and continued her sulking. I ruined her mood...

Temari might throw hands.

I forgot about finishing the segregation of those papers and walked to the side. It's not like I need to do all of that now. I put my arm on top of her shoulders, pulling her close to me. I didn't want to prolong her mood so I changed the topic to Shikadai.

"Is Shikadai home already?" Temari, although still rolling her eyes hugged me by the waist.

"I don't know. He's been with Inojin and Boruto." She said, calm.

"You saw them? What are they up to these days?" I asked while her embrace tightened.

We're both looking at my busy office. Books on the shelves and table, papers and scrolls just piled anywhere in the room.

This job. What a drag.

"No, I haven't Shikamaru. I just know because we talked about it." She shifted her weight from leaning it towards the wall to me.

I adjust my position to support both of us.

"Oh yeah. You were busy this afternoon." I remember our conversation earlier.

"Yes. But they're just probably with their cards and toys. You know, the scroll-looking gadgets." Temari concluded.

I motioned a nod.

"How're the brothers?"

"Like the usual. And... Shinki! What a wise boy his already a chunin! I know that's not indistinct but Gaara and Kankuro did great raising him." Remove my hand to hold it down.

Temari stands up to have a proper look at me. Happy by her news.

"It was as if yesterday you were nervous for the both of them, raising Shinki," I slowly said.

"Good thing some of our relatives helped," She paused. "Shinki is just too stiff," looking down.

"Oi, it's fine. There are always a reason behind those behavior. Maybe Shinki needs to be careful with others." I made her face me with my hands on her soft chin.

"Those damn old counselors!" Having a displeased reaction towards the topic.

I leaned down and kissed her temple.

"What's for dinner?" Changing the bothersome topic.

"A camel's butt. Soup, a new recipe from The Sand," she said, acting seriously.

"What the—"

She laughed at me, clutching my shirt.

And an ANBU suddenly opens the door.

Temari was so startled by the unexpected movements of the steady scene.

I raised my eyebrows like asking him what for that he came here.

"The Hokage needs you in the office." He said automatically.

He's rushed. What could've happened? Naruto did something wrong? Maybe he has questions or orders for me like usual.

But on second thought, he send an ANBU?

"He has a question for me?" I asked not letting him answer.

"I'll just go to The Seventh." I look back at Temari.

"Sir, Emergency," the shinobi said stoically.

Temari's and I turned our heads just the same time.

His hands were in great grip on the door. Making it swing open widely.

Temari stood straight after hearing that. All is well from what I left moments ago. He's just talking with his wife, Hinata.

"Ok. I'll be there immediately," not bothering to collect the prepared paperwork.

The ANBU disappeared after that.

We ran to the Hokage's office like we were racing.

Naruto is in sage mode as I opened the door. Hinata was wearing a worried look while standing beside her husband.

The room was how it used to, how I saw it just this afternoon. The numbered piles of papers near Naruto's table. The windows are closed and no spilled ramen or coffees anywhere in the room.

Nothing as I foresee it to be. It's a different kind of emergency then.

"Shikamaru, Ino contacted me. They were able to detect 16 chakras near the clear field of the ."

"What?" Temari asked, whispering.

I didn't dare talk and wait for him to continue. I know he'll explain further.

"Chakras just appeared in the system's monitor. They say it wasn't traveling and stayed there for a few minutes." Naruto stand up and shuffled his hair.

"You should include me next time. It is such a waste of time sharing the information." I said while searching for a report on his table.

"We didn't get a chance to think about that. Ino was rushing about everything, especially since that she says that they were familiar. But I'll keep that in mind." He focused his full attention outside the window.

His body facing outside with his sage mode activated.

"She met them already? What do you mean by familiar?" I was addled to the information.

"No, Ino hasn't gotten to meet them yet. It's the chakra. Their chakra signatures are familiar," Hinata answered while looking at the floor.

She's thinking about something.

I nodded, watching how they react I think it's not an ordinary and common case to deal with.

"Have you checked using your sage?" I asked after seeing Naruto's shoulders go down.

"Yes, but I don't want to come to conclusions and confirm it with Ino already," He uttered.

He looked in our direction not totally facing us. His face facing down.

"What is it now that we'll face against, Naruto?" My tone slightly went high.

What a drag now. I'm getting impatient with this.

"It's us. Past us."

Familiar chakra signatures huh. That's ridiculous but if Naruto thinks so then I'll consider thinking about it.

"Time Travel." I facepalm as I realized it is that.

"Wait. The turtle that helps Sasuke and Boruto?" I added.

"Oh? That thing didn't cross my mind yet y'know!" His eyes turned big.

Hinata let out a displeased reaction toward Naruto.

"The time Boruto said he got a chance to train with Jairaya Sensei? And fought the Otsutsuki?" Hinata, confirming her thoughts.

"Yeah, that one. Maybe it is that turtle but how tho." Naruto in deep ponder on the epiphany of the idea.

An ANBU with an eccentric display of a lion on her mask knocked on the window.

Naruto send Sai to the location already?

Hinata opened the window so she who's outside could speak with us.

"The kids are walking with the company of the 16 unidentified people. They agreed to Mr. Sai's request and demand. All is well for now. They will arrive soon," she quickly reported.

"Have Sai started the questioning?"

"Yes Lord Seventh, but to our genins only and Shikadai the only chunin in the troop. The first ones we can trust."

"Great, go now."

And so the ANBU did.

Before I can ask anything Temari spoke for the both of us.

"They're involved?!" Temari stepped forward and stopped by my side.

My wife's ready to throw hands.

"The children's fine, Temari. It just happened that the kids are close to where the 16 shinobis are."

There is something about that making Hinata appear pushy to me.

I felt calm after hearing that tho. He's fine then. I reached for Temari's hand and hold on to it, she squeeze it as a reply.

"We are yet to know if they're involved or not." Naruto then contradicted his wife.

Naruto. What's your problem?

"I know the kids have nothing to do with them," goes Hinata.

"How can you tell?" And Naruto asks doubtfully.

"Because you and Boruto are doing well now. I know he's who you think did this or just has something to do with it. But I am aware he is not since he'd change and won't be doing silly things to get your attention." Hinata burst as she defends Boruto.

Naruto was out of words hearing those. I guess he really did come with the conclusion of Boruto doing this. Why? I thought they're okay now?

Hinata let out a sign and started walking past us. Quick steps to the door.

"I'll pick Himawari from Iruka-sensei."

Hinata said in plain voice with glimpse of sternness.

Though she's close to being mad did shut the door as gentler compared to how we expect her to.

"Tsk! How would we solve this." Our Hokage is more problematic than minutes ago.

Naruto grabbed his hair and dismiss a sigh.

The two will be fine.

"Oi! Calm yourself, Naruto." I walked close to him.

"Should we escort them?" Temari asks after a moment of silence.

"No. I feel something that's telling me to let Sai handle this and just wait for them here," Naruto said.

"To not go there and manage them yourself?" An eyebrow of mine arch more than it usually is.