Disclaimer: I own nothing of this series or universe

Note: This is supposed to set around 2 years after the main story line. So that means that everyone in Shikamaru's age group is around 17. Just so everyone knows, I made Sasuke come back. It just doesn't seem like he's going to die. And, I know, we get the whole 'destroy Konoha' vibe from him right now. But maybe he worked things out.

Shikamaru lounged against a rock languidly. Despite having to work today, he hadn't had to do anything very troublesome. He leaned his head back and stared at the sky. There were plenty of clouds today and he just wanted lie there and watch the clouds.

Shikamaru was about to close his eyes when he heard a swish sound characteristic of a ninja appearing. He sat up and opened his eyes and subtly reached for a kunai. His eyes, however, beheld merely a messenger from the Hokage.

Shikamaru stopped reaching for his kunai and said, "You guys seem to have a real penchant for disturbing my relaxation."

The messenger showed no visible emotion and said in a very cordial tone, "Nara Shikamaru, you are to report to Tsunade-sama immediately."

"Immediately, huh?" Shikamaru answered in a characteristic lazy drawl. "Sounds important. Is it important enough that I have to leave right now? Or can I nap for an extra five minutes?"

Still standing straight and answering cordially, the messenger answered, "In my experience, sir, its best not to test these kind of things on Tsunade-sama."

Shikamaru thought for a moment, then rose and brushed the dirt and sticks from his pants. "You're probably right." Shikamaru said then jumped off.

Shikamaru walked into the Hokage's office. As always, it was a zoo. People were walking in to make requests, pay off requests, report supposed robberies, or to just complain. Shikamaru walked past the line that was at least a dozen people long. The clerk saw him and gave him the go ahead. He and Tsunade had long ago worked out an arrangement that kept him from waiting in line. He got to walk past the line, but he also had to make at least some effort to make their meetings on time.

Skikamaru approached the huge double doors that led to the Hokage's personal office. He opened one just enough to step inside and tried to quietly close it. But to no avail. The doors seemed to have a special quality that made them boom whenever they shut. 249 failed closings, Shikamaru noted.

Shikamaru turned his eyes to the Hokage's desk and saw Tsunade sitting there with a poorly disguised sake bottle wrapped in newspaper. Neji Hyuuga was standing in front of her. From the tidbits of the conversation he heard, Shikamaru pieced together that Neji had a special mission.

When they were done, Neji gave a respectful bow to Tsunade and turned to leave. He nodded at Shikamaru as he reached the door. Before he could leave Shikamaru grabbed his shoulder and said, "Try not to get so close to dying this time. It was really troublesome to have to save your—''

"Thank you for that, Shikamaru," Neji said as he cut Shikamaru off. His gaze softened. "But I seem to remember a certain time when I had to rescue you. I believe water was involved…"

"We both know that didn't count," Shikamaru said with a smirk. Bidding each other a final farewell, Neji opened and closed the doors with their trademark boom. Shikamaru turned to Tsunade and sat in the chair in front of her.

"So, what's so important I had to get here 'immediately' for?" Shikamaru asked, slumping in his chair.

"You don't even remember?" Tsunade asked, incredulity on her face. She shook her head, "Sometimes I wonder why I use you for such important things."

Tsunade studied him for a moment then asked, "You don't remember anything important that happens this time of year?"

Shikamaru stared blankly at her.

"Happens twice a year?"

He shrugged.

"Multiple villages?"

More blank staring.

A vein pulsed in Tsunade's head, and she looked as though she would throw something at Shikamaru. Shikamaru absentmindedly rubbed his left shoulder. It wouldn't be the first time.

Tsunade forced herself to be calm before yelling, "The Chunin Exams!!" Shikamaru stared upward in thought for a moment before saying, "Ah."

Tsunade took out the sake wrapped in a newspaper and took a swig. After she visibly calmed down, she said, "As you know, you'll be working with Temari again this year. She's scheduled to be here by two days."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "She's already begun the three-day trip?"

Tsunade nodded. "We just got the message today. Anyway, you know how this works. You're the bodyguard, guide, and partner."

Shikamaru rested his head on one hand and said, "You know, I believe the first year I did this my original job description was 'guide.' When did all this other stuff get added on? At first I didn't even help with the paperwork, but she literally held a fan to my throat."

Tsunade shrugged. "Its not my fault you two make a good team."

Shikamaru mumbled something under his breath and began to leave. As he reached the doors, Tsunade said, "You'd better be on time to pick her up this time Shikamaru. Or else."

Shikamaru nodded and once again tried to quietly close the door. BOOM! 250 failed closings,thought Shikamaru.

Shikamaru made his way through town. It was sunset and the shadows were stretched to their limits. He absently noted that this time of the day was when he was most powerful.

Hands in his pockets Shikamaru walked in the general direction of Kiba's house. On Friday nights, the guys of the Konoha 12 would try to go to Kiba's house to just hang out, recant old stories, and for some male bonding. Oh, and sake. Kiba's mom didn't really care about her underage son and his friends drinking. In fact, she'd often been the one who bought the booze and said that she thought they had the right to drink like adults, since they'd been doing adults' work. As a result, most of the 'male bonding' that happened took place during drinking games. Or when someone got so drunk that they thought that one of the guys looked like their girlfriend. But that had only once. Or twice. Or was it…

Shikamaru shook his head. He'd been too drunk himself a lot of those times.

As he neared Kiba's house, the variety of dogs living there ran towards him, barking and yapping. Shikamaru braced himself against the oncoming tidal wave of dogs and barely avoided being knocked over. He approached the house and heard the raucous laughter that signified his friends telling old stories. He opened the door and stepped in. There was a pause in the laughter and his friends turned to see who it was.

"Shikamaru!" Naruto shouted out. Shikamaru saw that everyone was already holding a shot glass. He looked around the room. Kiba, Chouji, Shino, Naruto, Rock Lee (who, of course had no actual alcohol, but instead extremely potent grape juice), and Sasuke were all there. He eyed Sasuke warily. It had been roughly six months since the guy came back, but Shikamaru still couldn't stop looking at him strangely.

"You guys didn't wait for me?" Shikamaru said, feigning disappointment. "How can you have any drinking games without your champion?" He said that last part with a smirk.

Almost instantly, there were boos and other claims to championship. Most of the time, everyone was too drunk to remember who had won the drinking games, so everyone thought they themselves had won. Although, Shikamaru could've sworn he'd won for real once…

Shikamaru took a seat by Chouji on a couch, and his childhood friend handed him a shot glass filled with sake. "So, who knows where Neji is?" Kiba asked.

"I think I heard that he has a mission." Shikamaru said. The other guys nodded with understanding.

"Well, we can't just sit here and do nothing," Naruto said. "So how about it?"

Everyone joined in and soon the drinking games had begun. Time began to blur to Shikamaru's senses. He did remember at some point telling everyone that he had to work with Temari again and that he received pitying looks and a couple of pats on the back.

Once Shikamaru had his fill of sake, which was just enough to walk home and only fall down once or twice on his way home, he left.

Shikamaru awoke and began his usual Saturday morning routine after a night at Kiba's. Take a very, very, cold shower, take a few headache pills, then sit in his favorite chair for around an hour while trying to sort out the last night's events.

After his hangover had basically subsided, Shikamaru began to read the paperwork for the Chunin Exams this year. Applicants, anything special about them, or anything like that. Sand is looking strong this year. Grass looks better than it has in a long time, Shikamaru thought to himself. He looked over Konoha's own applicants and frowned. As he looked at the teams, he realized that Konoha would be lucky to get any teams into the last leg of the exam this year.

He sighed. Tsunade wouldn't be happy about that.

As he kept looking through the papers from Suna he found a note from Temari specifically addressed to him.

It read,

Dear Baka Shikamaru,

If you aren't at the gate to pick me up this year, I'll personally shove my fan down your throat. Also, I noticed that Konoha's teams aren't looking good this year. I need you to check this out for me. See if this is for real or if it's an error in the paperwork. Though I doubt an error could be this big. I'd like you to find out before I get there. If you don't, consider your wallet mine, which I will happily use the money in to buy myself a nice pair of shoes, and a…

Shikamaru stopped reading there. He didn't need read the list of around twenty items taking up the rest of the note. He sighed. Why does she always have to do things like this? He thought.

Troublesome, he thought before leaving to check into Konoha's papers.