Naruto held Shikamaru's hand tightly as they approached the village. His grip in return was just as tight. Killing Mizuki was one thing, A bunch of strangers were another. They were now Shinobi, killers.

They were unsure. Unsure of what exactly it was they were unsure of. They stepped into the village, and Naruto had released Shikamaru's hand, and had lifted her hood, transforming into the male version of herself.

They arrived at the Hokage tower and Naruto abruptly took off, leaping up to the Hokage's office window. Shikamaru sighed and leapt after her. The rest of the genin stared confused.

"We will enter normally. Those two have a unique relationship with Lord Hokage." Kakashi shifted the unconscious Asuma on his back. He was heavy.

Naruto's eyes were wild as she leapt in the window. Her chakra flashed and she was across the room kneeling on the floor holding an unfazed Hinari. The red-blond was crying, and breathed in the comforting scent of her daughter. Shikamaru walked up to them and knelt too, arms wrapping around both of them.

Hiruzen watched, a knowing look in his aged eyes. He was saddened by the knowledge two more people had to kill, and felt that much older. He stood and approached the two. He place a hand on each of their heads. They looked up, and the tears flowed anew at the compassion in the old shinobi's eyes.

"J-jiji..." Naruto carefully hugged Hinari to her chest, tears slowing. Shikamaru had stopped crying and just held his precious people close. He could hear the rest of their teams approaching, and nudged Naruto. She nodded, and wiped her face of any tears. She smiled down at Hinari.

"Momma and Dada are home Hina-chan~" She cooed softly, tapping Hinari's nose with her slender finger. Hinari just giggled. 

"Mama, dada." She giggled. Shikamaru smiled at the child he saw as his own.

The doors opened and Naruto disappeared. She was hiding behind the Hokage's chair.

"Er, Shikamaru? Where is Naruto?" Ino asked. Hiruzen sat back down. "She will be back in a moment." He said. 

Kakashi stepped forward. He gestured to Asuma. "He needs treatment, we encountered S-rank opponents on our mission."

Hiruzen raised and eyebrow and kicked Naruto's leg. She winced. "Oops?" She whispered.

Hiruzen sighed. He waved Naruto out. She hid Hinari in her long hair, and stood partially behind Shikamaru.

"Report." He ordered.

The tone of his voice caused all of their backs to straighten. Kakashi stepped forward. "The mission started normally, we were walking with the bridge builder for a good four or five hours before we were ambushed by chunin ranked mist ninja by the name Akuma Brothers."

Shikamaru stepped up. "Naruto and I witnessed our sensei supposedly get ripped apart by the enemy. We attacked the enemy, and promptly disabled their ability to fight. We interrogated the only one still conscious, and got info on our enemy, Gato. We proceeded with the mission, aware of the risks, and encountered Zabuza Momochi who-"

"Brats."

Naruto flashed to Zabuza. "Shikaku-san didn't kill you! Yay!" She hugged him, and flashed back, giggling as Zabuza dry heaved.

She stepped forward. "I had sensed Zabuza and managed to catch his sword, dislocating my shoulder in the process. Luckily, Kurama healed it. I sealed the sword, and Shikamaru saved me from injury with a jutsu he learned. The sensei engaged Zabuza, and Shikamaru and I joined. With my bloodline, and Shikamaru using a lot of chakra, we beat him easy. I then proceeded to heal him and bring him with us. His student showed up, and we trained. Well, the other genin did. Shika and I were assigned to guard Tazuna-oji."

Shikamaru stepped back up. "One day, two enemies popped up. They were powerful. It was me, Naruto, and Asuma-sensei. Asuma-sensei and I took the one with lesser reserves, while Naruto took on the other one, whose reserves matched hers easily. We were surviving, but not winning. Asuma-sensei looked the guy in the eyes and collapsed. Naruto was basically being a fly, trying to distract them with her bloodline. Kakashi came and said they were-"

"Hoshigaki Kisame and Uchiha Itachi." Kakashi finished. Hiruzen paled. 

"How are you all not more injured?" He asked.

"Kurama."

"Naruto."

"I arrived too late."

"Look at Asuma-sensei!" The rest of the genin said. Asuma wasn't injured, just unconscious. He wouldn't wake though. 

"I'll get our healers as well as Inoichi to help him. Zabuza and his student, stay so I can speak with you. Naruto, you as well, Shikamaru will take Hinari home."

Naruto nodded and handed Hinari to Shikamaru. The other genin stared, and Naruto sighed.

"I'll tell you guys later. Shika, keep her safe, and give Anko this." She tossed him a scroll. It had at least five boxes of dango sealed in it.

Shikamaru nodded and pocketed the scroll and held Hinari close to his chest. "Dada!" Hinari giggled, grabbing a lock of his hair. He smiled down at her, and leapt out the window. The rest of the genin stared wide eyed.

"Dada!??" Ino asked. Naruto laughed. 

"Hina-chan seems to see Shika as her dad. And I'm fine with it, Shika is a way better father than her..." She flinched. "Ah, I'll tell you guys later."

They nod and leave, though Sasuke let his gaze linger on her for a moment longer before yeeting himself out of the room.

Naruto sighed tiredly as she flopped onto the bed, a knocked out Shikamaru already in bed. It had been a tiring mission, and after the massacre that the two committed, they hadn't gotten much sleep. 

Zabuza and Haku now had a shared apartment on the first floor, and were scheduled to take a ranking exam in three days. They would integrate just fine. The blond had had to fill out some paperwork, as well as have Zabuza and Haku sign some agreements and stuff. 

She kicked off her sandals and untied her hita-itae. She threw off her hoodie and stretched. She curled up into Shikamaru's side, breathing in his scent. She allowed his soothing scent to lull her to sleep, sighing as she felt his arms wrap around her.

AN// It's short, but I'm trying to get over the minor writers block I'm going through with this fic. Hope ya liked it!