Hey there people hope you'll enjoy my little story from Shikamaru's point of view. Let me know how you liked it and feel free to write down any suggestions! I'll try to build them in if possible :* XOXO

Imagine being a cloud. Imagine there were no limits that would hold you back, no duties which would push you to do anything, responsibilities, so you feel obliged not to let anybody down. Imagine being your own boss only subservient to the wind. Sounds like heaven, doesn't it? I bet all of you know the feeling when everything is just too much. Too much of an effort. Too much of a trouble. Too much. Some may call it a burnout or breakdown. I don't feel burnt out or broken. I am feeling overwhelmed, but not that kind of overwhelmed you could eventually cure with a long holiday. I've tried that. Even on holiday I catch myself thinking of work. I am tired. Horribly tired and really could use a cigarette. If only she hasn't found my last emergency packet in the shed, but I shouldn't have been this dumb to believe the nosiest woman of Konoha would miss that. Yeah. She gets me tired too. Always railing. Nothing's even right for her. Shikamaru this. Shikamaru that. Like I don't have enough responsibilities already. Who cares if the lawn will be mowed today or tomorrow? Jesus, how troublesome. Sometimes I think I should have stayed a bachelor. I was young and dumb to believe anything would change. She is as stubborn, bossy and loud as she used to be back in the days. Why did I even enjoy that in the first place? On the other hand, she is the mother of my only offspring. Thanks for that, I guess. Although I must admit being a father is way harder than I expected. Hats off dad! Nothing actually feels right. Do I forbid him to eat this much sugar, or is that ok? Should I force him to stop playing that dumb video game, or will he think of me as of an old prick if I do? Shit, this is stupid. I've been hiding in this shed for like 15 minutes now. Soon she'll realize I'm in here doing nothing – at least in her opinion. What am I even afraid of? I am my own man. I should just get out of here, go to the next shop and buy myself a packet of cigarettes. God damn it. On the other hand…If I do, there's no reason for me to go back home. She'll rip my balls off. Like hell she will. So I can either wait for hell in this shed, or go out there, buy cigarettes and get worse hell later. Or don't go back at all. Stupid thought. I can't just disappear. Where would I go anyway? They'll find me anywhere in Konoha. But maybe if I took that tent I've got somewhere here I might hide for a few days somewhere in the woods. Like in the good old Ninja days. But what if they find me? What will I tell them? I've got abducted. No one's going to believe that. Abducted with a tent. Something heavy hit my head in the shed and I've lost my memory? Possible but very unlikely she'll believe that. Well, Naruto I was just running away from my wife, my son, you and all of that shit business in Konoha. I was running away from the will of fire. Just for a couple of weeks…

'There you are. What the heck are you doing in here? ' She crossed her arms. 'Were you masturbating in here? Is there another stash of dirty magazines I should pretend not to know about?'
'You what?' He looked in a slight terrified way up to her face, but was mostly looking exhausted as always. ' I wasn't masturbating. I was checking on the mower.'
'By sitting on a box of books?' She rose a brow.
'Just had to take a second breath. I am not this young anymore as you might have realized.' He looked down again.
'You sound like you are 80 not in your mid 30s. And just to remind you oldie, I am older than you, so if there's anyone who should be tired it's me.'
'You don't go to work like I do.' He mumbled but immediately realized this was a bad idea to use this as a point in an argument. By the blush on her cheeks he knew he had already lost this battle. 'That's not what I meant Temari.'
'Oh really? If this is this much of a drag to you then why don't you stay at home some time and take care of the household why I do your exhausting paperwork?'
'Let's not start this again. Please.'
'You were the one who started it Shikamaru.'
'Look, I am sorry, ok? I didn't mean it like that.'
'Screw you Nara and get this stupid mower working.' She turned around on her heel and walked away energetically. It was surprising how after all this years of being a Nara she still managed to use his surname as a insulting nickname. As if being a Nara made him inferior to them, the royal Sabakus. He got up and whipped the dust from his trousers off, took one last look at his ex-cigarette-stash and at the tent, took a deep breath in, sighed heavily and pulled the mower out of the shed.

'Dad?'
'Give me a moment Shikadai, I just got in.' He sighed and looked at his twin-like son.
'Yeah sure, but can you help me with this one exercise? I am not sure if I am thinking correctly. It's about this shuriken trajectory.'
'Yeah, later Shikadai.' He was just pouring himself a cup of water when the blonde entered the room, still grimy. The temperature seemed suddenly about 20 degrees lower than before and caused slight goose bumps the moment Shikamaru looked at her. 'Looks like you have another job for me, don't you?' He stared at the shopping bag in her hand.
'Yeah, if you want to eat smart-mouth, I've got another job for you.'
'Can't Shikadai go?' He looked at his very obedient looking son.
'Shikadai has homework to do. Move your ass, lazy.' She hissed and Shikadai looked at the older man with a somehow scared face expression. He knew something must have happened between his parents when his mother was calling his father names.
'Fine.' He grabbed the bag and secretly hoped to buy some cigarettes. 'Why don't you ask your mother about that exercise, Shikadai?'
'I don't think mom will know how to help me.'
'What is that supposed to mean?' She pierced the boy with a lightning gaze.
'It's just…physics and…maths…and I thought dad would be better to ask for help.' He mumbled and moaned as his mother grabbed him by the ear.
'Oh really? Another Nara thinking I am not this smart?! Go to your room, I'll be there any minute and I'll show you how it's done.' Temari pushed the boy into the corridor. 'And you, old prick. I can see you struggling with some plan.'
'What?' He opened his eyes wider.
'I know you Nara. Don't even try. Buy what's on the list and get your ass home as fast as possible. Understood?'
' I am not planning anything.' He turned towards the doors afraid to show a hint of fear.
'If I smell cigarettes from you… '
'You'll rip my balls off, I know.'
'And then your head. In that exact order so I can see you suffer.'
'Jeeeez….' Shikamaru almost jumped out of the door. He has always respected her abilities as a kunoichi and for quite a long time thought they were the only reason everyone in Suna feared her. Soon he found out her abilities weren't quite as frightening as her character. He was quite convinced she still loved him, at least a bit, anyway, he believed every single word of her threat. Konoha's best strategist threw the empty shopping bag over his shoulder and lazily headed towards the city center. One step after another. Kicking a lot of dust up. If only he had stayed a bachelor.