Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Naruto (Anime & Manga) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Nara Shikamaru/Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuuga Hinata & Nara Shikamaru, Hyuuga Hinata & Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura & Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji & Nara Shikamaru & Yamanaka Ino, Hatake Kakashi/Umino Iruka (minor) Characters: Nara Shikamaru, Uzumaki Naruto, Konoha 13 Ensemble (Naruto), Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi, Maito Gai | Might Guy, Yuuhi Kurenai, Tsunade (Naruto), Shizune (Naruto), Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Chouji, Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba, Hyuuga Hinata, Sai (Naruto), Hyuuga Neji, Tenten (Naruto), Rock Lee, Nara Shikaku, Nara Yoshino, various Nara NPCs, various Konoha NPCs, Teuchi (Naruto), Ayame (Naruto) Additional Tags: Character Study, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fluff, Pining, Mutual Pining, really so much pining, Slow Burn, with a grain of salt bc he's aware hes in love, he's just stubborn, Nara Shikamaru-centric, BAMF Nara Shikamaru, POV Nara Shikamaru, the fictional intricacies of rebuilding an entire city, Japanese Culture, this fic made me like sasuke, Falling In Love, First Kiss, Getting Together, the rituals are intricate ok, Pre-Fourth Shinobi War (Naruto) Summary:
It is doubtlessly true that Shikamaru Nara is excessively lazy. However, it is also true that he is extremely devoted to those who have earned it.
Despite knowing this fact, it's not until he's managed to land himself in the middle of leading the reconstruction of their city that Shikamaru realizes just what lengths he's willing to go for Naruto's heart.
But exhausting as it is, he finds he doesn't mind— especially if it lets him finally find the strength he needs confess his feelings for the other man.
Aka: Shikamaru finds his motivation, and it's shaped a lot like a certain jinchūriki.







