Chapter 87

Title: Emotions All over the place

...

"I'm just messing with you. But I'm sure shedding a few tears wouldn't be so bad." Shun said with a small and sad smile.

"No, I'm Hokage. There are things that need to be done. I don't have the time to cry."

"Oh? But before being the Hokage, you're a woman. A woman who just lost someone she loves."

"Wha-What are you talking about?" She said, sounding tired rather than defensive.

"You don't need to pretend with me around. Despite my age, I understand quite a lot. Now. Let it flow." Shun said, finishing the last part with a bit of mental compulsion, leading to Tsunade bawling out her eyes.

Seeing this, he smiled and disappeared from the room. To him, this should serve as a moment of reflection for both she and Jiraiya.

They were over 50 years old for crying out loud, yet they couldn't even tell the other person 'I love you.'

Can you imagine that? Jiraiya's case was understandable, but Tsunade's wasn't. She had loved someone before and although he had died horribly, she should still be able to say the three magic words.

Jiraiya's time spent in recuperation should help him reflect while Tsunade, although swamped with work, taking a little break to mourn him should allow her to understand her feelings better.

...

"Here." Shun said as he stood over the weeping Naruto with a stick of Ice cream.

"Nii-san." He said with a sobbing voice before collecting the stick but didn't eat it.

"How are you holding up?" Shun asked after a moment of silence only to receive nothing but silence in return.

"I know it's hard losing someone you love. I felt the same way your father died and your mother was put in a coma." Shun said as he bit into his ice cream.

Smacking his lips at the sweet taste, he continued. "But you gotta understand that life and death is the mainstay of the Shinobi world."

"Nii-san....that's not nice."

"I know. And so was what you said to Tsunade."

Naruto visibly and slightly trembled in guilt. "I-"

"How would you feel if either Sakura or Sasuke were to die?" Shun asked, causing Naruto to snap his head at him.

"Whatever just came to your mind now is probably what Tsunade feels but dialed up by a few notches. They were the first Team Seven Konoha birthed y'know." Shun said as he gobbled the last part of the stick and threw it away.

"She just lost one of her most precious persons and you just had to speak to her that way."

"I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be apologizing to me." Shun said and stood up. "She's probably bawling her eyes right around now but go meet her in an hour or two. Talk to her, perhaps she might tell you a thing or two about your Godfather in his younger days."

"I will."

"You should. Your mother should know about this too." Shun said and began walking away. "I've spent so much time teaching you two for so many years. Control over your emotions will make you an even more perfect Shinobi, but.."

With a sigh, his figure disappeared, leaving the grieving and guilty Naruto to himself.

'Gotta let Iruka have his moment now, don't wanna deprive him of that position in Naruto's heart.' Shun thought as he spared a glance at Naruto from the mirror dimension, afterwards, he was off to meet his big sister.

...

"Heya nee-san." Shun greeted as he appeared right beside Kushina who was holding a picture frame in her hand with swollen eyes.

"Hey Shun." She greeted as she hurriedly wiped her eyes. "Wouldn't hurt to use the door every once in a while."

"How're you holding up?" Shun laughed and asked as he sat down beside her.

"I'm okay." She said quietly before her expression changed and she punched Shun on the shoulder. "Hey! Were you thinking I was some weak ass old lady who'd need some sort of consolation or something?"

Shun rubbed his shoulder, feigning pain. "Ouch, nee-san! I was just trying to be a supportive little brother."

Kushina rolled her eyes, a small smile breaking through her grief. "Supportive? More like annoying as always."

"I aim to please," Shun chuckled. "But seriously, how are you holding up?"

Kushina sighed, looking at the picture frame in her hands. "It's tough, Shun. Jiraiya was... he was like family."

"He was family," Shun agreed. "But you know, it's okay to grieve. You don't have to put on a strong front for anyone."

Kushina nodded, a tear escaping her eye. "I know. It's just hard. I never thought he would go so soon. I mean, I always thought that everyone could die except for that pervert."

Shun chuckled and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Life is unpredictable, nee-san. We can't control everything. What we can do is cherish the moments we had with him and keep his memory alive."

"I guess you're right," Kushina said, wiping away another tear. "You always have a way of putting things into perspective."

"It's a gift, genius and all y'know." Shun teased, earning another playful punch from Kushina.

"You're lucky I'm in no mood for your antics right now," she said, but a hint of gratitude sparkled in her eyes.

Shun's expression turned serious. "Nee-san, Naruto is struggling too. He might not show it, but he would need support."

Kushina nodded. "I'll talk to him. Losing Jiraiya will probably hit him hard, he was like the father he never had."

"He'll come around. Just give him time," Shun reassured her. "Now, let's remember Jiraiya for the amazing ninja and person he was."

...

"So let me get this straight... You quit being a ninja as soon as she showed signs of being pregnant? You both did?" Shun asked as he stared at the coupe seated in front of him with an unbelievable expression.

"Yup. It was getting hectic you see. I already don't have much time left considering the damage I've done to my lungs, but going out on missions would be stupid considering the new addition to the family." The man said as he stuffed himself with the meat lined up in front of him.

"Plus, the members of our two teams are already Chunin with two being Jounin. I'm sure our presence won't be missed." Said the woman beside the man and opposite Shun.

"This is..." 'Unbelievable' he finished the last part in his mind.

"I understand your worries, Shun. Ino and Choji still have some ways to go, but with Shikamaru, they'll manage." The man, who is Asuma said.

"You! What do you mean by this? Are you sure those two would ever mature? Shikamaru too. Are you even sure he'll be mentally strong enough to continue on this part? And hell, carry those two along?" Shun asked with a bit of anger and annoyance.

He didn't particularly know why he was angry, after all, Asuma would get to live, but those three wouldn't mature mentally. That in itself was a minus to the power houses or the future.

He wasn't being cold hearted by thinking this, after all, with Asuma being brought to near death, he could always place his heart and brain under a suspension state similar to what he did to Jiraiya, and after a couple days, with Shikamaru and his crew completing their revenge, he would miraculously awaken in the morgue or something.

"Isn't it a good thing that we're both retiring? The younger generation are already surpassing us. This way, we can spend more time together. And hey, Konohamaru and his friend are already Genin, with nothing to do, we can help in cultivating them for the future." Kurenai said, sounding a bit annoyed.

"You speak as though you're part of the older generation." Shun snorted. "You're just 7 years older than I am."

"Heh, We're married and you aren't."

"Was that supposed to be offensive? Coz if it was, it didn't work." Shun said and picked up the remaining meat on the table and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Hey! Not fair."

"Humph." Shun snorted and munched on the meat.

"That just showed it worked." Kurenai smirked.

'Humph.' Shun snorted internally but didn't reply.

"Well, I wish you both a happy married life I guess." Shun said and stood up to leave.

"Thanks Shun. That means a lot." Came Asuma's reply.

"Humph. Just make sure those kids are mentally prepared for a possible war in the future. The world is going to shit soon. And this won't be like the war of the past. Trust me. They would need all the fortifications they could get." Saying that, Shun disappeared from the restaurant leaving a stupefied duo.

"Does this have something to do with Jiraiya-sama's death?" Kurenai asked with a bit of worry

"I think. With someone that strong being killed, I dread to imagine the strength needed to accomplish such a feat." Asuma replied and looked at his wife with equal worry.

"Perhaps-"

"Don't even think about it, young man. I'm keeping this baby and you aren't returning to active duty. We aren't the only Shinobi in the world. Also, don't we have Shun as this baby's uncle? He surely won't let anything happen." She said with assurance, not knowing that what she had insinuated was actually the fact.

Shun had no idea where the trajectory of this world was heading this time. Without Asuma dying and igniting the Will of Fire in Shikamaru, there's no telling what would happen should Nagato attack the village.

As of now, she is already 3 months pregnant. In a month or two, Nagato will attack and her belly won't let her move carelessly.

Shun couldn't risk it and placed a protective seal on both her and the baby. In short, it was a double protection charm.

"I sure do hope so." Asuma said while rubbing his wife's tummy with a small smile. "Not to mention Shikamaru, Ino and Choji...Do you think I was too gentle with them?"

Kurenai shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I don't think kids are meant to grow up the way we did. Back then we were at war and now, we aren't."

"I know. But this reminds me of what my father once told me." Asuma said with a sad smile. "Unfortunately I was too hot headed back then to make sense of it."

"What did he say?"

"He once said; in times of war, we fight for peace, and in times of peace, we prepare for war.' Back then, we all fought for this peace now, but when it became our turn to prepare for war... perhaps we became too comfortable?"

"Why are you asking me? I did my best with my squad. Can't you see the lengths Hinata, Kiba and Shino had reached?" Kurenai asked with pride in her tone, and although Asuma knew full well that she didn't really have a hand in their growths, he wisely chose to keep silent and just let out a smile.

"Let's just hope for the best then."

"Yup. Let's hope for the best."

****

A/N. Next chapter will be an info dump with a bit of Cultivation lesson.

Stay tuned and enjoy...