A pinch of ShikaTema, a dash of TodoMomo, a hint of Dragon Age, and a heaping helping of whatever snark I decide to throw into the mix. Don't be surprised when random fandoms pop up, but I'll do my best to tag accordingly. Enjoy the show!
Hey all. As many of you know, I’m an unapologetic ShikaTema fan. Although I’ve been writing fanfiction for several years, I’ve been reading it for much much MUCH longer and amassed a pretty long list of favorites across multiple platforms. At the request of a few friends, I finally took the time to put together a list of fic recommendations for my all time favorites.
The list is arranged in three categories- Canon, canon compliant (for the most part) through Naruto chapter 700 and the light novels (note: it will not be guaranteed to be compliant with Boruto content); Canon Divergent, pretty much all fics that feature them in the Naruto universe, but vary in terms of how they get together or major events in the manga; and Alternate Universe, everything else outside of the Naruto universe. Ratings are assigned per the fanfiction.net guidelines and stories are organized in alphabetical order. Every entry will include the title with an embedded link to the original fic, the author, the story status (if not complete), the word count, the rating, and the author’s summary (occasionally edited by me for relevance and length).
A few notes:
Story titles that are bolded mean that they are one of my all time favorites and would highly HIGHLY recommend.
I only selected stories that feature ShikaTema as the main pairing. Some stories in this list do have other side pairings that I have not tagged. Note: If you are interested in other story favorites that feature ShikaTema as a side pairing, feel free to reach out to me and let me know. I am not currently planning on posting a follow up for fics like that, but if there is enough interest, I could change my mind
I tried my best to stick with completed fics or collections of independent oneshots. However, there are a few incomplete (aka abandoned) and in progress fics that I included, and marked accordingly.
At the end, I include a short list of my very favorite ShikaTema authors with links to their profile pages so you can check out some of their other stories (you’ll see that my list has a bunch of their work included).
MOST IMPORTANTLY: I specifically tried to populate this list with older fics that newer fans (or even some older fans) may not recognize, and catered to my own reading taste. As with any list, there are still plenty of incredible fics on ff.net and AO3 that are not listed here. I strongly encourage anyone who enjoyed these fics to show their love for the pairing by continuing to read, favorite/kudos, and review/comment fics that are posted.
Without further ado, let’s jump into it!
Canon
4,572 Days Later by therewithasmile (18,961) K+ : Post-canon shikatema drabble collection.
The 700th by glockcourage (11,368) K+ : No summary
Approximation by lollipop-mania (9,035) T : Some nights — usually nights, but occasionally during the day too — he catches her looking at him.
Attunement by Eclipse Shadows (17,084) T : Temari is halfway through her pregnancy when she runs into a little problem. The type of problem that involves explosions and destruction by her own hand, and it's not even on purpose!
Family Life by Aspire2B (141,527) T : A collection of oneshots centered on Shikamaru and Temari's lives post chapter 699.
Father’s Brains and Mother’s Attitude by Kimiz (1,435) K+ : Shikadai might have his father's looks and brains, but he's got a little more Temari in him than she would have thought.
Lazy Love by existence555 (9,755) T : Love doesn't get more dysfunctional than this. Then again, it doesn't get more passionate either. Drabbles, all 100 words and under.
The Nara Family by SpicedGold (80,848) Ratings Vary : A series of loosely related stories about the Nara family. All canon compliant, and all can be read independently of one another. (Author tries) to update this series at least once a month.
The Penny Drops by KuriQuinn (1,697) T : After the misunderstanding at the inn and hot spring, Shikamaru comes to a rather belated realisation about a certain Suna kunoichi.
Wrong Things, Right Things by Jayne Foyer (15,667) T : When assassins are sent to dispose of the Kazekage's heir, Shikadai Nara, his parents devise a plan to keep him safe. Said plan may or may not involve a permanent move to Suna. Shikadai doesn't like the plan, but if it's the only thing that'll keep him safe, he doesn't get a choice.
Canon Divergent
39 Days by Mussimm (52,702) (Incomplete) T : A challenge, a deadline and a mission. Fire and Wind are intertwined, the fate of their people will be decided in 39 Days.
59 Moves by Oh Dee (4,120) T : It only took fifty nine moves for checkmate.
A Prickly Pair by Endoh (10,252) T : Shikamaru tries his damnedest to ensure Temari’s first birthday they spend together is perfect…but life has a way of turning the best intentions upside-down.
Addiction by Ash2Ash (Incomplete) (200,535) M : "I can stop anytime I want to." Not a fluffy story because neither Shikamaru nor Temari appear to be purposely fluffy people. Watch them grapple with reality and either sink or swim.
An Interesting Engagement by Picture (17,185) T : A series of unrelated one-shots, each resulting in the engagement of Shikamaru and Temari
Arranged by PSITeleport (Incomplete) (96,545) T : Shikamaru has a mission to Suna, which must be completed before Tsunade's death. But there's more in store for him than a six-day round-trip and a paycheck.
The Bend and Snap by SunaPrincess7 (12,132) T : Temari decides to teach Hinata how to woo Naruto- unfortunately for Shikamaru, using him as her model.
Candlelight by DrErrRedclaw (6,305) M : How much do you do for someone when you're not even in love?
Catch 22 by Lotos-Eater (32,342) T : Temari has a problem: she wants to marry this guy, but he happens to belong to another hidden village. Shikamaru has a problem: he wants his girlfriend in his bed, but she keeps insisting that she lives somewhere else. How to fix this?
Changing Her Mind by Violetnightshade (22,768) M : Shikamaru's relationship with Temari crossed beyond the boundaries between ninja years ago; such a bond is a major liability, and must be handled appropriately. Ironically, it's Temari who makes the logical choice.
Collide by SunaPrincess7 (3,879) T : The thing about war is that it makes you think.
Curious by spiritedarray (9,367) M : You didn't make love in the ANBU, you made war. ANBU AU
Dear Kishimoto, You Can Bite Me by PSITeleport (8,175) T : Shikamaru and Temari are trapped in a hopeless scenario. It doesn't matter how smart Shikamaru is, or how strong Temari is, there's one man that has all the power. And, this time, it may very well be game over.
Endgame by spiritedarray (8,539) M : "Then why don't we play a game?" he offers, knowing she'd be hard-pressed to refuse such an enticing invitation. "Seduce me, I dare you. Give it your best shot. Make me sorry I ever broke up with you."
Embracing the Inevitable by PSI Teleport (14,073) T : A moment of impulse leaves Temari with a lifetime of responsibility and a confession to make. A story about women, accepting the paths of life that cannot be avoided.
Flat Irons, Makeup, and Mayhem by Twi-Smile (16,576) M : A girls night at Ino's house in which, Sakura, TenTen and Hinata led by Ino try to get the truth out of Temari about her relationship with Shikamaru.
Heartbeat by Mussimm (34,510) M : She wasn't fooling me. I had seen her turn a square kilometre of forest into firewood. There was nothing modest or sweet about Temari, she was pure destruction disguised by a curvaceous figure and an eloquent tongue.
The Hero She Deserves by BlackMajjicDuchess (14,616) M : Several years into the Great Ninja War, death is almost a certainty. In her desperation to feel alive, Temari has given over to random carnal encounters in the anonymity of darkness, but Shikamaru is the only man she ever wanted. Staying alive is priority number one, but all bets are off when the war is over... if it ever ends.
In Memoriam T by SunaPrincess7 (7,369 - Angst) T : "I hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it when I sorrow most; 'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." A rebuttal.
Inside the Black Ant by Troublesome Shikamaru Fan (11,064) T : Temari knows how to conceal her emotions, but everyone has a limit...and Kankuro thinks it's time she exceeds hers. Poor, poor Shikamaru...
Intertwining Fate by glockcourage (176,173) T : The Kazekage wanted his first born to be male, forcing the medic to make a switch. Years later, the secret of the past still linked the Kazekage's lazy son and the Nara's blonde daughter.
It’s All in Your Head by heimai (17,923) M : Nara Shikamaru is 100% prepared to someday find his girl that isn't too ugly and not too pretty, and does his best to keep his distance from Temari during her stay in the Hidden Leaf because he Does Not care and he Does Not like her. Unfortunately for Shikamaru, he can't control his dreams, and they seem to be telling him the exact opposite.
Me and My Shadow by DrErrRedclaw (2,414 - Angst) M : Temari, Black Queen of the Sands, and an anniversary she'd rather forget.
Mistake by lollipop-mania (3,329 - Angst) M : If a mistake is only supposed to happen once, why do they keep making it?
On Beating the Learning Curve by Thinkette (2,562) M : "I'll be damned if some other woman came along and gathered the fruits of my labor." Exploring Shikamaru Nara's romantic life through the eyes of his troublesome woman. "It made me realize that he was no longer that clumsy boy fumbling with my underwear."
Playing Cupid by A.Pevensie (7,180) T : They say God helps those who help themselves, but for the clueless or lazy, Yamanaka Ino is happy to provide her services as a matchmaker. Shikamaru and Temari are her first project - they just don't know it yet.
Prisoner by lollipop-mania (6,681 - Angst) M : She was never meant to be his prisoner, it wasn't his job and it sure as hell wasn't his interest. But, there she was after almost ten years, cuffed.
Recent Photo by PSITeleport (5,566) T : What starts out as a normal, administrative operation turns into a rather stimulating game. But who will the real winner be?
The Rules by lafolleconnasse (21,871) M : This wasn’t how their game was played. The game that the two of them had been playing for who knows how many years, the game that the two of them liked to pretend didn’t exist, but they both knew had clear and well-established rules.
Serenade by kimi no vanilla (2,747 - Angst) M : There is an old saying in the Nara family: Don't walk with the shadows for too long, or you'll become one.
Shadowplay and Hurricanes by CosmicStorm14 (Incomplete) (58,123) M : Follows Shikamaru’s and Temari’s volatile on/off relationship, which also includes encounters with other characters in later chapters. Some fluff, mostly smut. Alternating POV.
They Are Good At Many Things by lollipop-mania (46,340) M : So, dating wasn't exactly their thing, but that didn't mean they weren't good, well, GREAT at other things. A series of one-shots describing moments in Shikamaru and Temari's relationship.
Three Days by Lotos-Eater (14,185) M : The Nara doth protest too much, methinks.
Three Simple Words by Starving Lunatic (9,002) T : Three words change the course of Shikamaru and Temari's relationship.
Troublesome Crybabies by ichilover3 (13,177) T : He was beyond lazy. She was beyond troublesome. It was beyond love. A series of oneshots.
Tsuris by NessieGG (2,768) M : They played each other every time, both physically and mentally.
Zombie Plague by wingedmercury (36,820) T : "Temari, there's no such thing as the Zombie Plague," Kankuro mutters. "You're wrong," she rasps. "I'm definitely a plague victim." Her hands tremble as she dry heaves; she would rather die of the Zombie Plague than be pregnant.
Alternate Universe
A Nameless Fic Because Shikamaru Said So by Oh Dee (72,858) M : Shikamaru thinks high school is troublesome enough without a foreign exchange student. Temari thinks hell is bad enough without a pineapple haired lazy ass. Funny how things work out
A Stupid Excuse for a Fairy Tale by TaintedMoonlight (41,954) T : Princes aren’t real, but demons are; kingdoms fall, but others are discovered. The heroine shines and everyone else dulls. Modern day fairy tales are hard to come across and this one isn’t one at all.
The Anecdotes by SunaPrincess7 (38,669) T : "Life is something to do when you can't get to sleep." The moments in Shikamaru's life when he is not asleep. Drabbles
Blue Notebook by LalaMoped (8,330) T : She didn't know who he was, but read his notebook anyway. Is it possible to fall in love with someone based solely on how they write?
C Plus by viiisenya (68,148) T : Temari met his eyes as soon as she bit down onto her fork. Greatness echoed Asuma’s voice, sending a chill down his spine. She grinned at him, something candid and believing, leaning forward slightly. “And, just so you know,” her voice was hushed as if she was telling him a secret, “a C+ GPA doesn’t condemn you to a C+ life.”
Candyman by Coelha-chan (2,559) T : There's nothing more dangerous than a boy with charm. Sakura, Ino, Shiho, and Tayuya discuss the merits of Shikamaru.
Chains by Valerie Sabrina Verzoe (91,437) M : The Suna Princess left her homeland when the Konoha army invaded. She fell into the hands of the Konoha army and ended up a courtesan in a magnificent manor, where she met the lazy genius of Konoha. Where will the chains of fate lead her? And what sinister plans lurk in the grandeur of the city? Will Suna rise again?
Coffee Shop Soundtrack by viiisenya (Incomplete) (55,795) T : In his four years of coffee making, he had never made a mistake. So, when that Bothersome Blonde he’d never seen before came trudging to the counter complaining about her order being made wrong, Shikamaru couldn’t help getting irrationally defensive and argue with her. It also didn’t help that she happened to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his entire life.
The Desert and the Deer by nahra (28,187) M : Shikamaru has no idea how long he’s been a death god. All the lives he’s taken have become a blur, the faces a haze. Until he’s sent to kill the wind witch Temari. She recognizes him for what he is and immediately invokes the Laws of Old, forcing him into a dangerous gamble that changes everything.
How the Prince Met the Girl, How He Lost Her by Oh Dee (52,348) T : Prince Shikamaru has no intention of getting married or taking over the throne, but when certain circumstances give him no choice, he decides to make a plan that will have his future wife running for the hills.
The Levels on Which We Lie by pearlsong (Incomplete) (65,667) M : College is a drag, but it doesn't have to be. (Alternatively, two dumb geniuses playing relationship chicken)
Slave by SunaPrincess7 (Incomplete) (71,542) M : Suna has lost the war. Badly. Temari is captured and taken to Konoha as a slave. There she ends up working for a rich family, the Nara's.
What It Takes to Make Her Smile by TaintedMoonlight (23,449) T : Not every fairy lives a happy life. Not every curse is made to last. Not every girl is doomed to laugh. They say she cannot smile for if she does, then she must grant any wish her jester chooses to bequeath and her life will fade with every wish.
im still really really so so bad at dodging Hecate's transformation hex but anyways unrelatedly ive been thinking about those videos of the buff women who do sheep shearing
As someone who had finished the game before engaging with the fandom, I'm glad that everyone is aligned with how comical the difference in their proportions is.
