After returning to Konoha for three days, Shikamaru finally learned about the village's current state. The Konoha Ten Colors had essentially monopolized all high-level missions.
As for Kurenai, Anko, and Yakumo, who also possessed near-Kage-level strength, Tsunade had instructed them to maintain a low profile and serve as hidden assets. Yakumo, in particular, had developed such formidable genjutsu skills that Tsunade deeply distrusted her. It was only after discovering Yakumo's feelings for Shikamaru that Tsunade dared to utilize her.
Kakashi, Guy, and Asuma were preparing to lead new teams of genin, starting that very day.
The Anbu posed no issues with Mai Shiranui in charge, and Yugito had joined to assist her, remaining hidden as necessary.
Moreover, it seemed Shikamaru's future father-in-law, Hyuga Hiashi, Hinata's father, was waiting for him in the Hokage's Office. With nothing pressing, Shikamaru transformed into a shadow and slipped away.
"Future father-in-law! What urgent matter brings you here?" Shikamaru announced as he entered the Hokage's Office, immediately spotting Hiashi in conversation with Tsunade.
"Shikamaru!" Tsunade and Hyuga Hiashi called out simultaneously. Hiashi's face lit up with delight at the sight of Shikamaru.
"Shikamaru, I have a request to make of you!" Hiashi said immediately.
"Oh? What is it?" Shikamaru frowned slightly. What business does the Hyuga Clan have with me?
"Ahem! Well, Shikamaru, you must be at the age to take on disciples now, right?" Hiashi began.
"Hmm," Shikamaru hummed in response, a flicker of understanding crossing his mind. He instantly grasped Hiashi's intentions. Not that I particularly care about taking on a disciple... but if it's her...
That would be a different story entirely.
"Shikamaru, Hiashi wants to recommend a student to you. What do you think?" Tsunade interjected at the opportune moment. Having already discussed the matter with Hiashi, she knew exactly what he was aiming for.
"Oh? Who is it?" Shikamaru chuckled inwardly, feigning interest.
"It's my youngest daughter, Hanabi!" Hiashi declared, his voice trembling with suppressed excitement.
Thanks to Shikamaru's influence, the Hyuga Clan had firmly established itself as Konoha's foremost family. The primary reason for this was Hinata. Hiashi later learned that Hinata's abilities, as well as the Konoha Ten Colors, had been granted by Shikamaru himself. This realization fueled his urgency to have his youngest daughter, Hanabi, become Shikamaru's disciple.
Getting closer to Shikamaru would not only strengthen Hanabi's position but also allow her to develop her talents rapidly. After all, her potential far surpassed Hinata's!
"Oh! It's Hanabi! Has she graduated yet?" Shikamaru asked, suddenly remembering her.
"Yes, Shikamaru-sama! Hanabi graduated a year early!" Hyuga Hiashi replied immediately. Unable to discern Shikamaru's intentions, he pressed eagerly, "Shikamaru-sama, what do you think...?"
"Hmm. Tell Hanabi to meet me at Hokage Rock tomorrow," Shikamaru nodded, a faint, mischievous smile flickering at the corner of his lips. Hinata's younger sister... If... wouldn't that make them a pair of flower sisters?
Hyuga Hiashi had no idea that his eleven-year-old daughter had already caught Shikamaru's eye!
"Thank you, Shikamaru-sama! Thank you, Tsunade-sama! If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now!" Overjoyed at Shikamaru's agreement, Hyuga Hiashi bowed deeply.
After Hyuga Hiashi left, Tsunade strode forward and grabbed Shikamaru by the waist. "Hmph! You sly Shikamaru! Don't think I don't know what you're up to!"
Tsunade knew Shikamaru had never expressed interest in taking on disciples. His sudden acceptance of Hanabi's case spoke volumes about his ulterior motives.
"Heh! Could I really refuse Hyuga Hiashi?" Shikamaru chuckled awkwardly.
"Shikamaru, you said the Akatsuki should be making their move soon, right?" Tsunade asked gravely.
"Yeah, that's right," Shikamaru nodded. "It's about time. Too bad I didn't run into any Akatsuki members on my last mission."
"Jiraiya and Naruto should be returning soon too, right?" Tsunade murmured, a hint of wistfulness in her voice. Three years had passed in the blink of an eye.
"Tsunade-sama! Shikamaru-sama! Tenten's outside looking for you!" Shizune announced it suddenly.
"Tenten? Got it. Tsunade, I'll take my leave now," Shikamaru said, giving her a quick kiss before turning to Shizune and planting a kiss on her cheek as well. Then he strode out.
"Shikamaru-sama!" A female voice called out as soon as he stepped outside. Shikamaru looked up to see Tenten, her face beaming with delight.
Bathed in the sunlight, Tenten's radiant figure and sweet smile were dazzling. Her outfit, in particular, struck Shikamaru as strangely familiar, reminiscent of the world he'd known in his previous life.
"Tenten! Were you looking for me?" Shikamaru couldn't help but smile.
"Um, Shikamaru-sama! I wanted to talk to you. Is that alright?" Tenten asked, a little shyly.
"Heh! Of course! Just call me Shikamaru. I'm not even older than you, you know," Shikamaru chuckled, walking forward. Tenten naturally followed.
"Shikamaru, do you remember what you promised?" Tenten asked suddenly, her voice hopeful as they strolled.
"Hmm! You mean about giving you a Shadow, right?" Shikamaru nodded. Before leaving Konoha, he had promised Tenten that he would grant her a Shadow upon his return.
"Yes! So, Shikamaru..." Tenten nodded, hesitating to voice her thoughts.
For the past two and a half years, Tenten had eagerly awaited Shikamaru's return, second only to his wives. Seeing her peers achieve fame and recognition, she felt a pang of frustration. While waiting, she had trained relentlessly, managing to become a Jonin, but still lagged far behind Ino and the others.
"Heh! I did find a Shadow for you. But..." Shikamaru chuckled softly, voicing Tenten's unspoken concerns, then trailed off.
"But what?" Tenten exclaimed, startled, and urgently grabbed Shikamaru's hand.
"Because this shadow is quite special! The way it was bestowed is... well... a bit ambiguous," Shikamaru said, a hint of embarrassment in his voice, though his eyes twinkled with amusement.
"Ah! H-how ambiguous?" Tenten exclaimed, pressing him for details.
"Heh! I'll show you the shadow's abilities first," Shikamaru chuckled, then darted toward the village outskirts. Tenten hurried after him.
They arrived at the training ground where Shikamaru had practiced the Three Body Technique as a child. Gazing at the familiar trees, he sighed inwardly, recalling his inexplicable arrival in the Naruto World.
At first, he had struggled to master basic ninja skills, a grueling journey beyond words. Only later did he gradually grow stronger.
"Shikamaru!" Tenten called out, noticing his distant gaze. Shikamaru snapped out of his reverie.
"Hmm! I'm fine. Watch this, Tenten!" he replied. A jet-black kunai materialized in his hand, condensed from his Shadow Gold. Since awakening this power, Shikamaru had stopped carrying ninja tools altogether.
Shikamaru deliberately slowed his movements, allowing the kunai in his hand to fly toward a large tree with deliberate slowness.
Tenten stared in bewilderment. What's so special about this? she wondered, but she kept her eyes fixed on the kunai, watching intently.
Noticing Tenten's puzzled expression, Shikamaru's lips curled slightly. He muttered inwardly, "Ninja Art - Space Piercing Technique!"
Without warning, before Tenten's astonished eyes, the kunai Shikamaru had vanished as if it had pierced through empty space.
A thud echoed through the air. Tenten's eyes widened further as she saw the kunai that had disappeared moments ago now embedded deep in the tree trunk.
"What do you think, Tenten? If you still don't understand, I'll demonstrate again," Shikamaru said. Without waiting for her reply, dozens of kunai materialized in the air before him.
"Ninja Art - Space Piercing Technique!"
This time, Shikamaru's muttered incantation reached Tenten's ears clearly. She tensed, then watched as he swung his arm.
The kunai shot forward in unison, but before they could travel far, each one vanished into thin air, just like the first. Tenten immediately shifted her gaze to the tree.
The vanished kunai reappeared a foot in front of the tree trunk, striking their target with unerring accuracy!
"How's that, Tenten? Satisfied?" Shikamaru grinned at her, knowing the shadow he'd painstakingly extracted was a rare treasure.
In the past two and a half years, Shikamaru had only encountered one ninja who used Space-Time Ninjutsu, highlighting the rarity of this technique.
"Ah! Shikamaru, is this... is this really Space-Time Ninjutsu? Can I... can I actually possess it?" Tenten asked, her voice trembling with disbelief. As a weapons specialist, she immediately recognized the devastating potential of combining this technique with her arsenal. Imagine her kunai materializing without warning right in front of her enemies, the element of surprise and lethality would be unparalleled! She was instantly captivated.
"Mm," Shikamaru nodded slightly.
"Shikamaru! Give it to me! I want it!" Tenten exclaimed, seizing his hands with both of hers, her voice shaking with excitement.
"..." Shikamaru fell silent, momentarily speechless at Tenten's words, which he usually only heard from his wife during intimate moments. Fortunately, he knew she didn't mean it that way.
"Tenten, are you sure? You remember the method for imbuing shadows..." Shikamaru's smile widened like a wolf eyeing a plump lamb, though Tenten failed to notice.
"I'll accept any method!" Tenten interrupted eagerly.
"Mm."
In the secret chamber of Anbu headquarters, Shikamaru and Tenten stood back-to-back, removing their clothes. Shikamaru maintained his usual smirk, while Tenten's face flushed red, her hands trembling as she fumbled with her buttons.
Tenten hadn't anticipated the level of intimacy Shikamaru's method required, both of them completely naked and pressed tightly together.
Initially, Tenten refused to believe it. But after Shikamaru demonstrated, she reluctantly accepted. The shadow imbued with Space-Time Ninjutsu would immediately vanish into the void upon leaving Shikamaru's body, thankfully retrievable by him.
Even fully clothed, a tight embrace would cause the shadow to slip away. After countless trials that left her heart racing and cheeks burning, Tenten had no choice but to follow Shikamaru's instructions.
For some reason, while mortified by the situation, Tenten's heart fluttered with a strange joy.
Could I have... liked Shikamaru all along? Tenten wondered, her face burning.
Soon, their clothes lay discarded on the floor. Shikamaru's shadow eyes had already opened, secretly observing Tenten's entire disrobing process without her knowledge.
"Sh... Shikamaru! That's enough..." Tenten's voice, barely louder than a mosquito's buzz, almost went unheard.
"Mm. Just stay still, Tenten," Shikamaru replied, leaning back. Tenten's body trembled as he pressed his bare back against hers, their limbs intertwining.
"C-can we start now?" Tenten stammered, flustered. Even though they were only back-to-back, she already felt like she had shared skin-to-skin contact with Shikamaru.
"Shadow Ninjutsu - Shadow Domain!"
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