shikamaru

Even when she was young, she had never been so shy.

However, this is different from what they agreed on at the beginning.They gave up the possibility of being together for the responsibility they shouldered with each other, she thought.What she has never forgotten in so many years is also the image of him shouldering responsibility.She suddenly felt betrayed, and her voice became a little excited: "Where is Konoha? Don't you want Konoha?"

"Konoha doesn't need me anymore." He heard the condemnation in her words, stopped his hands, and looked into her eyes seriously.

She froze again.She could understand, but not understand.She suddenly felt that the person in front of her was no longer the him she knew.In her mind, he was still the same as he was more than ten years ago, shouldering responsibilities, exhausted and persevering, enduring the trials and tribulations of life.And his time has moved forward for more than ten years, and now he is so light that even Konoha can leave.

He had changed, she heard herself say.A burst of sadness flooded her heart, her years of feelings had nowhere to go, and they were finally going to dissipate in the desert wind.

"Konoha doesn't need you anymore, so you came to Shayin? Are you so sure, am I still the same as I was back then?" She regained her composure and asked calmly.

"I think you may have misunderstood something. I came to Shayin, this is my big gamble. It is impossible for you and me to remain unchanged for so many years. Of course I have expectations for you, but in my life, my destiny is to live Forget it, try everything possible to teach me that nothing can be forced. But no matter what, at least the fact that I still live on the same land as you makes me somewhat gratified."

After finishing speaking, Shikamaru called the waiter to pay the bill, and asked him for a pen and paper to write and draw on it.After paying, he returned the pen to the waiter and pushed the paper to Temari, "This is my contact information. I'm just a commoner in Sand Hikari now. If you want to contact me, you can contact me anytime, I don't What's inconvenient." Then Shikamaru got up and left.

For the third time, Temari froze there.

Temari was tossing and turning when he returned to his residence.She didn't want to be disappointed with him, but she couldn't suppress her disappointment, she could only let it fill her heart.The reason for being disappointed is naturally because of expectations.She had given him the highest level of trust in the past, trusting him sometimes more than herself.In their distant teenage years, she was the one who witnessed his growth, from a kid who needed her care to a mature man who could be relied on and trusted.Naturally, she also witnessed the change in her mood towards him.Because of this, she couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe that the current him had become another him who no longer took responsibility.

She thought over and over what he said on this reunion, and sat up in shock as if she suddenly realized something.

The author has something to say: welcome to catching bugs.

☆、Chapter 13

The next day, Temari hurried to the Sand Hikari Immigration Bureau early in the morning, requesting to investigate a certain person's immigration status.She used public favoritism to make a request to an employee who was preparing before the immigration office officially opened.

"A background check? Well, since it's Temari-sama's request, it should be an important position. I'll check it for you."

Some organizations and positions in Sha Yin need to conduct background checks when applying for employees. However, the immigration bureau handles thousands of materials every day, so it does not have the time to respond to the employer's background check applications for employees one by one.By the time it becomes available to find out, employees have often been on the job for months.However, the Immigration Bureau did not dare to neglect certain important positions in the village, let alone Lord Temari came to inquire in person.Of course, Shikamaru didn't apply for any important position in the village, so Temari's actions naturally took advantage of his official status.

"I didn't find it. He must have forged his identity. Don't consider such a dishonest person, Temari-sama."

Temari thought for a moment, then pondered: "You try Shikamaru again."

This time, there was a result. Shikamaru was naturalized in Sagakushi about 20 days ago. The real estate used for naturalization was located in the northeast corner of Sagakushi, and the name he used was only Shikamaru spelled in katakana.That person would not lie to her. He admitted to being naturalized, and he was naturalized.It's just that she herself was unwilling to believe that he had really left Konoha, so she ran here early in the morning to seek a confirmation.Originally, the result of the first search was what she expected, but out of deep trust in him, a second test was carried out.This time the result was interesting, reminding her of another possibility—that she might have completely misunderstood him.

She left, and when she left Fengying Building for business in the afternoon, she stopped by the Shayin Industry and Commerce Bureau and asked to check the business license of the Shayin Chess Club.This is a right that can be exercised by anyone, but the Industrial and Commercial Bureau, which is also busy with so much work, still takes care of Temari-sama's face, and shows several times the usual efficiency, and presents Temari with what she needs in a short while.

The business license shows that the owner of the Sand Hidden Chess Club is Shikamaru, and he is also the operator.The name on the license was just like Shikamaru spelled in katakana, as she had checked at the immigration office early in the morning.

Nara is gone.

Immigrants in Sand Yin come from all over the world. The custom here is to have a name without a surname, but this is not the case in many places.She also took this into consideration when she made the immigration policy, and decided to fully accept the cultural customs of the immigrants' origins. If the immigrants are not willing to give up their original surnames, there is no need to give up, and Sha Yin will accept it.But Shikamaru, who has no surname, is a bit unusual.For him, since Sain did not force the immigrants to give up their surnames, his behavior can be regarded as giving up his original surname without taking the trouble.

Since she knows that he is not just talking about it, but is a person who carves his fear of trouble into his bones, he naturally has a reason to do so.She recalled again what Shikamaru had said to her the night before.He said Konoha doesn't need him anymore.It's not that he doesn't want Konoha anymore.Thinking about it carefully, she is 47 years old this year, and Shikamaru is 44 years old. His adopted son, whom she has met a few times, is also 20 years old. He must have inherited Shikamaru's identity. I heard that child is Konoha Shinshin The pillar of the generation.

She realized their future was bleak when she attended Shikamaru's coronation ceremony.Her life is doomed to be entangled with the rise and fall of Sand Yin.She is not only the eldest daughter of the previous generation of Kazekage, but also the older sister of the current Kazekage. She was one of the few elite ninjas in Sand Hikage back then. She is not allowed to leave Sun Hikage easily with any identity.And he is not only the backbone of Konoha, but also has a big family behind him who needs his wing protection.There is almost no hope of a political marriage between them like this, after all, both of them are important to their respective villages.Political marriage has always been a "privilege" only for insignificant princesses and bastards who will not inherit the great cause.

She faintly described his life in this life, and the sentence "because of you" the day before yesterday is also very meaningful now.She was overwhelmed by his surging and deep feelings, and the surge of emotion in her chest was beyond words.After accompanying her for many years, the feelings that almost disappeared last night in the wind came back with a fuller attitude.No, in fact it never left, if not, it would not be able to explain her behavior today.She has always been indifferent in her heart, why has she ever been busy with her own affairs in so many years?She seems to see two similar middle-aged people, each overcoming obstacles on the road of their choice.They burn their talents and youth, and work tirelessly for their hometowns.He succumbed to life, but never forgot to resist, and finally he completed his mission and came to her again.

She thanked the staff of the Industrial and Commercial Bureau for her service, and walked back to the office quickly.She was eager to finish the work at hand quickly, and then went to play a game of chess with him before the chess club closed.Yesterday's piece of paper with his contact information was still in her pocket, she watched the time fly by, and she didn't know when the work would end, so she wondered if she should send him a text message first and ask him to wait for her?But they are no longer the relationship they used to be. She can't do such a presumptuous thing.

Finally, with the three-star fan on her back, she dashed to the roof and eaves of Sand Hidden in the posture of the mission, and finally jumped in front of the chess club door, Shikamaru was about to lock the door and go home.She breathed a sigh of relief, but luckily caught up.Before he had time to adjust his breathing, he shook out a refreshing invitation while panting, but it sounded more like an order, "Come to the next game."

Shikamaru thought for a while, he couldn't refuse any invitation from this woman in his private time.He gave up on locking the door, opened it, fumbled the switch by the door to turn on the light, and then made a "please" gesture, asking Tezumi to come in.

He followed her into the door and asked, "Shogi or Go?"

"Shogi."

They played chess in silence, the atmosphere was as awkward as the day before.Temari lost the round in silence, and had no choice but to say, "Come again." Shikamaru couldn't refuse any invitation from the woman in front of him in his private time.So they came with another plate.

Temari lost the second set again in silence, and Shikamaru still couldn't refuse her offer.So one after another.The initial embarrassment was slowly replaced by a relaxed and cozy atmosphere.Both of them enjoyed the pure joy of playing chess, and they couldn't beat Shikamaru even in Temari.

"You really haven't changed at all." She took a pawn and attacked Shikamaru's camp.

Shikamaru immediately ate the chess piece, "Oh? How should I say it?"

She took another chess piece and took Shikamaru Yuki who ate her chess piece just now. "I checked your immigration information today... Shikamaru? Where's Nara?"

He turned to attack elsewhere, "I don't want to be burdensome."

She clicked her tongue softly, "As always, I'm too afraid of trouble." She dropped another pawn in defense, "But it's been more than 20 years, and I can't go back."

"Why do you have to go back." His attack became sharper, "I didn't even know you were so good at chess."

It was a poor compliment, a man who had killed her too weak to fight back, to praise her for a good game of chess.The sharp attack made Temari feel tricky, he hesitated and couldn't make a move. "A few years ago, when I was shopping with Kankuro and Gaara, I saw a chess set in a grocery store and bought it by accident. Later, I went to buy a book explaining the rules and how to play. But no one played with me. , I can only grab Kankuro and Gaara to accompany me, but they are not interested in playing chess. If they still think of me as an older sister, they would have been impatient. So they played badly."

"Shopping?" He couldn't help teasing, "Are you sure it's shopping, not a private visit?"

Temari suddenly wanted to slap the chess piece on Shikamaru's face, but reason prevailed, "Whatever you say."

"You are welcome to come here often, next time it's better to come earlier, and while the guests are here, also advertise for my chess club. You are so popular in Shayin, you must be able to generate a lot of income."

"When did you become a miser?"

Shikamaru spread his hands, "Who told me to leave the family and become a guest in a foreign land."

"Won't Konoha give you a pension?"

"I didn't want it."

He didn't even want a pension, and he really picked himself and Konoha clean. "I still have a job and I can't be like you. And I'm not ready."

"No need, you and I are in a different situation." Since Temari still couldn't decide where to make her turn, Shikamaru stopped staring at the chessboard and chatted with her. "As I said, this is a big gamble of mine, and you don't have to cooperate. I'm also very satisfied with playing chess like this. And your chess is not bad. To be honest, the two of us are already playing at a high level. It's just that you can't beat me yet."

She was a little relieved, but annoyed at his last comment about her chess skills, her heart was agitated, and she finally decided to ignore it.The guesses during the day are answered in the affirmative, the man in front of him is not sticking to the past, nor is he obsessed with the future.He just stayed by her side again, just like they were walking in Konoha back then, keeping a close distance.They can feel each other's presence, but they also respect each other and reserve private space for each other.He came to her again, although he had expectations for her, but he didn't go one step further.It had to be said that it was a wonderful move to retreat like this, which only made her want to share her whole life with him even more strongly.

"I also reflected on myself today. The reason why Shayin was able to recover to what it is today is largely due to the fact that Shayin's talent system has finally been rebuilt. I have thought about you, entrusting your ability and responsibility to a reliable junior, I feel that this is the choice that a mature ninja should have. Instead of doing everything by myself like me, I am tired and sick, and the younger generation cannot get exercise, so I dare not let go and fall into a vicious circle. Lower the village's attitude towards The dependence of certain individuals is also a manifestation of a mature ninja village. And our generation has worked so hard for so many years for this purpose.

But if I didn't know you now, I'm afraid I would never realize that I have gone astray now.It's time to entrust the future to younger generations.I have rebuilt the talent system, and I should trust people who come out of my system.Otherwise, wouldn't it be a distrust of myself?

But the handover of generations cannot be completed overnight, and I may still be busy for a few years.This is a blind spot in my thinking, and I didn't start preparing early.Maybe..." She stopped, embarrassed by the heat coming from her ears. She herself was also very puzzled, why the shyness that she had never experienced in her youth took control of her body in middle age or even approaching her twilight stage of life. She Worried that his embarrassment would be seen through by him, he thought to forget it, and changed his words: "It's getting late, take me home. "

Shikamaru was not obsessed with the unfinished game, he packed up the chess set and went home with Temari.They walked side by side on the streets of Shayin, chatting with each other.Explain to each other what kind of life the two people had in those years when they were missing each other.The last time Konoha walked side by side like this was more than 20 years ago, when they were young.Today, Sand Yin also has a street scene similar to Konoha. When passing by certain shops, she still does not forget to recommend them to him.He listened carefully, and couldn't help laughing, no matter how it was a dessert shop, her taste hadn't changed.

In the blink of an eye, he and Temari arrived at her residence.With her back to the door, she thanked him and said goodbye.He was nostalgic for the time spent with her, as if the soles of his feet had taken root, and he did not want to leave.He suddenly felt a little resentful towards himself. The things he couldn't do and the things he couldn't say back then still haven't changed.Although it was his own business that he moved to Sha Yin, he would never ask her to force her to do anything, but did he really do what he was supposed to do?

The moment Temari turned and opened the door to enter the room, Shikamaru suddenly grabbed her hand.In the most intimate moment between them in the past, they had never had a skin-to-skin relationship. For a moment, both of them were stunned.He felt the dryness of her skin, and she felt the roughness of his palms.Once again, they feel the traces of time engraved on each other, realizing what they have lost and what they don't want to lose again.

Gathering up his courage, he decided to act like a teenager and take a brave step that he hadn't taken before. "Temari, be my girlfriend."

That was her deepest desire too.She turned around and stepped forward to hug him, "Okay."

The author has something to say: welcome to catching bugs.

This article has a side story "Chasing Swallows", and a new article will be updated.