Edited: 04/06/24

Reuploaded: 06/06/24

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Shikamaru's PoV

I decided, now that I know where y/n usually is, to go and visit her... With food...

Kurenai sensei told me that she usually takes y/n food because she doesn't get enough time to go get anything to eat but I'm taking over that job because I don't think that she should be moving. She's getting closer and closer to her due date, and it can't be good for her or the baby to move around so much.

"No!" I heard y/n shout as I was about to turn around the corner. I stopped and just listened.

"I told you, I'm going home tonight. I can't just keep working days and nights, I'm going to get extremely sick, or I could die!" y/n said, her voice oddly calm considering the conversation, "not only that but I miss Shikamaru. Considering everything I've been doing, I'm certain you can give me a freaking break to spend a little time with my boyfriend."

"I know how you feel, y/n, I really do. But we need all this finished before you get too tired to continue," a female voice replied.

"Too tired? The hell? Why is that the reason?" y/n asked, her voice slightly raised.

Oh man—I've never seen her angry before, I don't really want now to be the first time either. What a drag...

"Come on, y/n, you know if you rest you—" the woman started before y/n interrupted her.

"No! You know, I really wish that I didn't seek you people out, then I wouldn't have had to deal with this rubbish!" y/n was now shouting, I heard a door slam and decided to turn around the corner to see it was her Aunt, Mina.

"She doesn't mean that, I hope you know that," I spoke up, Mina turned and looked at me sadly before walking away.

What have they been forcing y/n to do?

I walked to the closest door, guessing that was the one y/n went into. My hand hovered over the handle when I heard quiet sobbing.

I walked in silently and closed the door before looking around the messy room and finding y/n under a desk. Placing the food on the desk, I crouched down in front of her trembling body.

My heart ached at the sight.

"Hey..." I said quietly.

"It hurts you know?" she whispered, "hearing them scream out in pain so much."

I leaned forward and pulled her into my arms, hers going around my back almost straight away.

"I don't want to do this anymore," her cries were much louder now.

"I won't force you to tell me, but what have you been doing?" I asked her, stroking her h/l h/c hair and rubbing circles on her back. Resting my head against hers I listen to her crying. She doesn't answer. Instead she just cries.

She's broken.

Shikaku's PoV

I was walking around the village as usual.

Not like I have anything else to do.

It's been a while since I've seen y/n, maybe I should take a visit.

No. She hasn't been home for a while so I don't think that she will be there. Shikamaru probably won't be there either, he'll be with Choji or all his friends.

Well... Except Naruto. He's on his mission in the Land of Lightning.

"Good afternoon, Shikaku," I turned to see Choza.

"Good afternoon, Choza," I nodded at him, and he grinned.

"How're you? It's been a while since we last spoke, hm?" he asked. I smiled a little.

"Indeed it has. I've been here and there, doing this and that. I'm perfectly fine, for now," I replied with a lazy grin.

"Oh! Lady Tsunade told me to tell you to tell Shikamaru and y/n that they need to go and meet her now," he told me as he remembered before quickly disappearing again.

"But... Where are they..?" I grumbled before sighing.

What a drag, now I have to find them myself.

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"This is cute, but Lady Tsunade needs you," I finally found the couple, they were sitting under a tree, y/n's face red and puffy, clearly she'd been crying and Shikamaru looked like someone had just torn him to pieces.

Just what—

"R-right," y/n stood up quickly and speed walked away, I stopped Shikamaru before he could follow.

"What was that?" I asked him, he let out a long-exasperated sigh.

"I'm not sure."

Your PoV

We reached Tsunade's office just to duck from a flying chair.

"L-Lady Tsunade?" Shikamaru called into the room, through the hole that had just been created by the Sannin's obvious wrath.

"Finally!" she shouted at us, we took that as a 'come on in' and stepped through the hole. What's the point in using a door when there's an easier way in?

"Y/n, Shikamaru, we're doing line ups for the Allied Shinobi Forces. You BOTH missed today's war council so now I have to repeat everything all over again!" Tsunade shouted. Man... She looks angry.

"You both will take on my ever-growing wrath after this..." she trailed off and frowned at me. That's when I remembered that I had been crying so my face was probably red and puffy.

"Please accept our most sincere apologies," I said quickly, "now, what is it you need us for?"

She kept eyeing the two of us for a while before sighing.

"The ninja who are going to be fighting in the main force during the war will go to the Land of Lightning, to the Hidden Cloud Village, and we will all be having a meeting about the Allied Shinobi Forces, we will be put into our units. Y/n, whatever you're doing with your l/n ninja, you need to hurry up. We leave in two days," she told us seriously. I let out a short sigh.

"Yes, m'ilady," I bowed my head to her before excusing myself, not really being able to hide the bitter frustration in my tone.

"So?" Kistov's voice echoed in my head.
"Please... Just lock my emotions away for while I'm doing this. As soon as I'm done, then unlock them again," I ordered him. I sensed his presence give me a swift nod before seemingly disappearing and then reappearing.
He shouted something loudly at the back of my head before slamming his hands on my consciousness. I felt something click into place and then fall out.
"Emotions locked away, I'll unlock them in two days, so stay away from anyone who will notice your emotionless behaviour and will question you about it," Kistov warned me before disappearing.

Why does he have to hover around now? It's such a pain...

Shikamaru's PoV

War is coming.

Y/n is working hard but it's hurting her at the same time.

I don't want to lose her.

She's such a troublesome woman.

What a drag...

"Shikamaru?" Choji's voice called, I looked up from the shop window I'd just stopped by.

"Oh hey, Choji," I smiled at him and stood up straight again.

"What're you doing here... at a..." He leaned back to read the store name, "ring store?"

"I'm looking for a ring," I replied vaguely.

"Why?"

"I want to get a ring for y/n," I replied, his face turned red, and he brightened up happily.

"Are you going to?!" he asked, hopping from foot to foot in excitement. I nodded.

"Yes," I replied.

"Really?!" he asked even more with giddiness.

"I'm going to propose to y/n."