May 26, 2025
Shikaku and Yoshino for sure.
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Shikaku and Yoshino for sure.
Mine
Happy Day 4 of @shikakuweek ! I didn’t originally have a plan to write for today but I got hit by a burst of inspiration. There’s so much to explore in Shikaku/Yoshino’s relationship. I loved writing this story, I hope that you all enjoy it too. There are parts of this that reference the events from another story/chapter, “Meant to Be,” but you don’t need to have read it to understand what’s going on. My headcanon is that Shikaku and Yoshino knew each other when they were really little and she’s loved him since then. Anyway, I’ll leave you to it. Enjoy!
Prompt: Romance
Summary: He wasn’t bothered by it. Not at all.
*
**
Mine
“I don’t like her,” Shikaku repeated once again while his teammates looked at him unconvinced.
It was a typical evening out and his team had decided to spend it at their favorite restaurant. Yoshino and her friends had also been there and this led to the inevitable discussion about their relationship.
Inoichi stared at him with a challenge set in his eyes. “So you’re saying that if I asked her out, it wouldn’t bother you.”
Shikaku shrugged in response. “By all means, you wanna saddle yourself down to someone like her that’s your funeral”
To his surprise, the blonde man made his way over to her with a grin on his face.
*
**
“Hey Inoichi! How are you?” Yoshino greeted him warmly. She loved Shikaku’s teammates and she was forever grateful that they watched over him.
“I’m good, your future husband is being a nightmare.”
Yoshino smiled at the thought. “Why?”
“He said that he wouldn’t care if I asked you out, which we both know he most definitely would.” Yoshino laughed at the explanation, understanding Shikaku’s glare from the other side of the room.
“He’s still far too stubborn. It’s alright, I think I’m starting to wear him down.”
“How’s your medical ninjutsu?” The blonde asked curiously, feeling Shikaku’s cold stare on the back of his neck.
“Pretty good, why?”
“I might need it if he stabs me for this. Come on let’s get a drink.”
Disbelief and shock were keeping Shikaku restrained to his seat in the crowded restaurant. The look on his face caused Choza to worry about breaking up a fight.
“So you’re really just going to let this happen,” Choza asked his friend who had been silently stewing in his seat.
“They’re free to date whoever they want.”
Choza shook his head annoyed at his teammates. “One of your best friends slash teammate is asking out the girl that you won’t admit you love and you’re just going to sit here.”
“Yes.”
Choza dropped his face into his hands. “We’re doomed.”
“Why?”
“Because clearly I’m the only one with brains on this team.”
The rest of the night Shikaku just glared at them watching as she smiled and laughed in his friend’s direction.
‘What the hell could she be laughing at? Inoichi isn’t that funny.’ Shikaku grumbled to himself.
“Stop being so stubborn and go over there.” Choza tried to reason with him.
“I’m not being stubborn and I don’t need to go over there. I mean she’s obviously just being polite.”
“Jealousy is an ugly emotion.”
Shikaku’s mouth was pulled in a tight line. “Well, then it’s a damn good thing that I’m not jealous.”
Choza shook his head with a frown of disbelief. And yet Shikaku complained that Yoshino was the stubborn one. He threw back another drink. Tonight’s tab was going to be on them.
*
**
Yoshino swirled her drink, an uncommon look of defeat in her eyes. “It’s tough Inoichi. I don’t know if he’s ever going to want to be with me.” They had many conversations about his teammate and she appreciated how supportive he had always been.
Inoichi looked at her surprised. Recently, it felt like something had changed between the two of them. Even now she was wearing the hair clip that Shikaku had given her weeks ago.
“Where’s this coming from. Since I’ve known you, you’ve been on this path to becoming a Nara.”
“After he gave me this I honestly thought things would change. It’s been weeks and he feels even more distant than before. He hasn’t acknowledged my existence once tonight. We’re getting older, it hurts getting rejected all the time ya know. You know how stubborn he can be, if I keep pushing he’s just going to move further and further away from me. If I want any chance then maybe I need to back off a little bit.” She rested her head tiredly against his shoulder.
“Hey, he’d be lucky to have a girl like you.”
She’d been thinking about this for a few weeks now. Those precious moments in the cherry blossom grove seemed almost like a dream. It might be time to wake up. “He deserves the best, that’s all I’ve ever wanted for him. Maybe though, that’s not me.”
Inoichi patted her head comfortingly, annoyed with his friend. “Don’t give up just yet. Come on, let’s get you home.” They made their way over to his teammates to say good night. Just being this close to Shikaku was breaking Yoshino’s heart.
“It’s getting late, I’m going to walk Yoshino home-“. Inoichi was cut off by Shikaku standing up to his full height.
“No problem. I’ll walk with her.” Shikaku announced moving to her side protectively.
Inoichi had to hide his grin. Shikaku was pissed. “It’s okay buddy, I’ve got it.”
“I insist.” He took her hand in his, leading her outside. “Come on Yoshi time to go home.”
Inoichi and Choza watched the couple leave with a smirk.
“Well, my work here is done.”
If Shikaku was as smart as everyone thought he wouldn’t let her go so easily.
*
**
It was a chilly, starry evening in Konoha. Shikaku instinctively pulled Yoshino closer to his side to keep her warm. Her hand was still clutched in his. He was purposely taking her the long way home and if she noticed she didn’t mention it.
“So, when are you two going out?” He asked curiously trying to keep the look on his face passive. He knew it probably wasn’t his business but he needed to know.
Yoshino smiled at him with a shake of her head. “Come on Shikaku he would never actually ask me out. Besides, he knows where my heart is. I would have never accepted.”
“Yoshino…”
Tears began to appear in her eyes. It was now or never. “Look, you know how I feel about you. How I’ve always felt about you. I’ve held onto a lot of hope that we’d end up together eventually but maybe I was just trying to force my own feelings onto you and that isn’t fair. I saw how many girls were staring at you in there. You probably don’t realize it but they’re always watching you. I’ve just selfishly tried to keep you all to myself. But, I think that the best way to show you how much I love you is to let you go.”
Shikaku’s heart dropped, confusion clouding his face. “What? What are you saying?”
“Shikaku, I love you. I’ve loved you since you foolishly tried to defend me from those bullies then I knocked them out myself. But love without freedom isn’t love. So after tonight, I’ll keep my distance. I’ll give you space to find whoever it is that you think deserves your heart.” She reached up to kiss his cheek.
“Goodbye, my dear.” His hand lifted to touch where she kissed his cheek watching her walk further and further away from him.
“Wait!” Yoshino felt herself still seeing shadows trapping her in place.
“You can’t just say that and decide the future of our relationship like that.”
“What future?”
He paced back and forth trying to get his thoughts in order. “For years you’ve been telling me that we're supposed to get married, that you knew that we belonged together. Don’t I owe you trees in the forest? How can you just give up?”
Yoshino’s shoulders dropped in defeat confused by his frustration. “I don’t know what you want from me Shikaku. I can’t have anyone else but you. You’ve always said that us together isn’t possible. You could easily just walk away, leave me here and move on but I can’t do that. I’ll never be able to just stop my feelings for you but if I know that your heart is safe with someone that you want then I think I’ll be okay.”
He reached up to grip at his hair. “God, woman it’s you I want.”
Her eyes widened at the declaration “Shikaku?”
“I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been. Time and time again you’ve offered me your heart and I just kept rejecting it but you stayed. I guess that I never allowed myself to believe that how you felt about me was real. I’m so sorry. Despite how I acted and what I might have said I think that I was selfishly keeping you tied to me. So that you would always be mine.”
He took a deep breath resting his forehead against hers. “All night I was watching you with Inoichi, really fucking upset and jealous. He’s one of my best friends and I wanted to knock him out cold because he got to see your smile. The one that I always work so hard to earn. I began to panic because even if it wasn’t him someone else could steal you away from me. Until tonight, I never imagined that could happen.”
A warm hand cradled her face, his thumb brushing away her tears. “Yoshino I love you.”
He felt her tears raining between them while they kissed his arms wrapped around her tight. He spent years denying how he felt, how much she meant to him and just how much he loved her. His demanding, beautiful, wonderful Love.
She gazed up at him with a watery smile. Her heart was whole and complete. “I love you too Shikaku.”
Yoshino hugged him tightly, her head resting against his heart. She shut her eyes tightly overwhelmed and relieved. He loved her. She had always believed that this was the path that their relationship would take but she wasn’t prepared for how wonderful it felt.
“Why are you still crying?” Shikaku asked worriedly, brushing her tears away. She reached up to kiss him, relishing in the fact that she could do so freely. He was relieved feeling her smile against his lips.
She curled into his chest, his strong arms wrapping her up securely. “I'm just really happy.”
A lifetime of shared memories ran through her head knowing they had many more to look forward to. He had been, and would always be hers.
*
**
Always: A Shikaku/Yoshino ficlet collection
My Dear
My Love
Meant to Be
Mine
*
**
The Yamanakas are the best wingmen. :D every incarnation of InoShikaCho is precious. I need more stories about the InoShikaCho daddies.
That’s all I’ve got for the week! Thanks for celebrating with me. I’ll enjoy seeing everyone’s submissions for the rest of the week. Thank you especially to @shikakunaras for moderating and a special shoutout to @temarihime ! Go read and love all their stuff!!! Love to everyone in the Nara Clan!
Temari is very intuitive. for: @mybrainishealthy
Meant to Be
Happy Day 3 of @shikakuweek deers! Here’s my submission for today. If you read my Shikatema week story, This is my Idea, this story is kind of prequel ish to one of the chapters. Not to worry though, it can be read as a stand-alone.
I’ll preface it with this info. In the Nara prefecture in Japan there’s Mount Yoshino which is a mountain covered by thousands of cherry blossom trees! Ugh. Right in the heart. So this idea/head canon of mine was born. I’ve attached this story to my Shikaku/Yoshino ficlet collection, Always, over on AO3. I don’t think that ever posted any of those stories here on Tumblr. I linked it so if you’re interested you can read the other stories I have for them. Okay, enjoy some fluffy fluff for Shikaku & Yoshino.
Prompt: Forest
Summary: A walk through the forest.
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**
Meant to Be
The first time Shikaku brought Yoshino into the clan’s forest he’d finally relented after some non-stop badgering. Since that day as often as she could she would ask to go out there. Usually convincing him with the promise of training and delicious food. It was much easier to just agree than try to argue his way out of it. He was strong, rational, and thoughtful but it was no match for her sheer will and determination to get what she wanted.
While her goals in life were clear she was still a talented kunoichi and had a creative mind. Training with her would often push him to the brink of his skills. He hated losing because she'd probably lord it over him till he died. Still, he could admit training together and enjoying her home-cooked meals after had become a ritual he looked forward to. Today, he had a specific place he wanted to bring her to. They walked past their usual training area further into the forest than they had been before.
“I swear if you leave me here.”
“Just be patient will you.” Breaking through a line of trees Yoshino was completely floored. A flood of cherry blossom trees filled her sight. Beautiful delicate flowers rained around them.
“What is this area?”
“Family tradition. I don’t know who started it but it’s an anniversary grove. My parents have been together for many years. My father has planted one tree each year for their anniversaries. These are my mom’s trees. It’s kind of a permanent shrine to show much he loves her.”
Yoshino's fingers traced over the bark almost feeling the spirit of past loves there amongst the trees. So much of the area was filled but there were still many more places for future trees.
It was absolutely gorgeous out there. The sky above her was washed in pink petals with the sunlight just peeking thru. She always loved coming out there. Even more so now knowing that there was this secret slice of heaven.
Yoshino walked towards the pond, a sparkle shining in her eyes clear when she faced Shikaku.
He knew that look. “What?”
“I want my trees right here.”
He peered at her confused. “What are you talking about, woman? What trees?”
“My trees.”
“You have trees?”
She nodded looking at the space around her. “Yes, the ones that you’re going to plant me.”
“Is that right?”
“Yup, because sooner or later you’re going to realize how much you love me. How much you’ve always loved me.”
He rolled his eyes. She was not just a nag, she was insane too. Since they were younger she was convinced that they were going to end up together one way or another.
He crossed his arms leaning against the trunk of a tree. “You’re so sure of yourself huh?”
Yoshino shrugged, not the least bit phased by his doubt. “Of course, fate is on my side.”
She sauntered up to him invading his personal space. Her hand trailed up to rest on his chest. “You’re going to realize that I’m the only one for you. I’m the only one that can handle the genius of the Nara clan. The only one that you’d want standing next to you helping you lead.” Her eyes fluttered up meeting his gaze. “I’m the only one.”
When she stepped away he released a breath that he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. That wasn’t going to happen. Sure they were friends now but a romantic relationship was completely impossible. She was troublesome and difficult. There was no way that he’d ever fall in love with her. Right?
“Stop trying to reason your way out of this. It’s okay, I can wait. Sit down and eat.” She might possibly be delusional and definitely demanding at times but she always kept him well fed. He knew that she had his best interest at heart.
Once Shikaku was done eating he laid out on the forest floor to stare up at the leaves above. Their day together had been pretty wonderful. Yoshino was far too affectionate and he was far too lazy to argue so when she rested her head against his chest he just let it happen. A part of him relished in the feeling of her warm against his side.
They laid there together under a canopy of pink and talked about their lives and goals for the future. Any time he brought up an idea she’d immediately follow up with where she fit into that picture of a perceived future. He indulged her imagination and by the end, the life that they’d drawn out together seemed pretty perfect.
“Yoshino?” He looked down surprised to see that she’d fallen asleep with a content smile across her face. His arm in instinct wrapped tighter around her.
“Ku?” She asked sleepily.
“It’s okay, we have some time. Go back to sleep.”
“Thank you.” She mumbled snuggling further into his chest. He watched her for a moment as she fell back asleep a wave of affection overwhelming him. He softly kissed the top of her head, his lips lingering ever so slightly.
He held her as she slept. A million thoughts running through his head. Trying to keep certain ones back. This felt so perfect and safe. Here together in a place where the world around them just stopped.
*
**
“Thank you for bringing me out there. It was really sweet.”
“Yes, of course. Just keep it to yourself. It’s kind of a Nara clan thing.”
She nodded appreciating the level of trust. “I get it. Well then thank you for sharing something so special with me.” It was nice for an afternoon seeing him so soft and relaxed.
“Here, I uhm I got you this. I picked it up during my last mission. And you know kind of a souvenir for today.” Shikaku carefully reached up to clip a delicate cherry blossom pin in her hair. His fingers curling around a soft lock of hair. When he’d purchased the small trinket it inspired their trip out to the cherry blossom grove. Inoichi and Chouza teased him relentlessly.
Yoshino’s hand reached up to touch the ornament. Even during a mission, he thought about her. This was much too coincidental.
That soft smile he loved crossed her face. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Still can’t admit you love me?” She asked with a grin.
His mouth curved into a frown but she could see the faint blush along his cheeks. “Good night.”
She just laughed watching him stomp off. It would only be a matter of time. “Good night my dear.”
*
**
Flashforward
Shikaku sat back watching while Yoshino chased their son around. Shikamaru made trails along the soft petals on the floor as he ran through.
“Come on son, time to eat.” He scooped him up and held him while Yoshino prepared their food. He held Shikamaru up high while his tiny hands tried to reach for the pink petals above them.
“You think Shikamaru will ever plant his own trees out here?” Yoshino asked as they settled next to the pond. Her trees provided them shade from the sun.
“Sure, one day an overconfident, troublesome woman will steal his heart. He’ll try to ignore it, complain about it but he’ll realize how incomplete he is without her. Then he’ll be the happiest person alive.” Yoshino laughed before leaning over to kiss her husband. She had always believed that they’d end up together but the first day that she’d seen her own trees planted here left her in a teary mess.
He just stared at her fondly while she beamed brightly at him. Her smile always left him breathless. “I love you Shikaku.” A warm hand cradled her head against his chest. His fingers ran over a familiar flower clipped into her hair.
“I love you too and I always will my dear.”
*
**
Always: A Shikaku/Yoshino ficlet collection
My Dear
My Love
Meant to Be
*
**
I love them. Okay, just one more from me. I’ll have it up tomorrow. Tomorrow’s story kind of comes in after this but again another stand-alone ish. Thank you for reading my beloved dearies!
♡ your wife needs to be privy to ALL your thoughts ~
Send ♡ to see what my muse thinks of yours
●●●●● | ATTRACTION ●●●●● | AFFECTION ●●●●● | INTEREST ●●●●● | LOYALTY ●●●●● | TRUST
LOW | ●●●●● | HIGH
"As if I would put anything else, Yoshino."
It's time for lunch on the first day back to work. Bento unwrapped: it's all Shikaku's favourite foods. She made a ketchup heart on his omurice. The little note inside reads: "miss you already, you stupid fool ❤️"
Shikaku was glad that he had chosen to eat his lunch in his office. It allowed him to smile openly as he read the note and saw just how much care and love had been put into his lunch. His smile turned into a devilish smirk as he thought of just how he would make it up to Yoshino once he got home.