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It wasn’t subtle the way the lush green forests of their nation began to lose all their orange leaves, replacing them with dry slumbering bare branches for the season. The air brisk and cutting at times, winter snow covering Konoha city in a sheet of white, leaving homes to be warmed by wooden fires and people bundled from top to bottom in layers to keep the cold at bay when outdoors.
It was a blissful time to be alive, to share in family dinners and come together to celebrate the festive times in a world where peace was now promised between the great nations. Even the Hokage had announced a merry Christmas to the people alongside his family, spreading the joy across the homes as people prepared to make this day one to remember.
Nara Home.
Outside the home of the Nara clan, the small herd of deer gathered for the winter rations promised to them by the clan leader. Trenching through two foot tall snow to get to the feeders placed just for them, special dried pellets and fruits waiting to be tasted. Soft dark eyes and dull thick grey coats for the brutal winter that made them ready to survive it until spring when their newborn fawns would be born and a new generation would take over.
The room around him aired in a blissful wavering heat, a fire stoked to keep their home festive and warm, Shikadai sighed peacefully as he glanced back to his hand held game, deciding if another level was worth the effort before he had to meet up with his best friends.
Shikadai enjoyed this time of year, looking fondly at the Christmas tree in the living room. Bonding with festive decorations handed down from many generations before him, hiding his curiosity behind a carefree attitude. He had decorated the tree with his parents at the start of the month and yet every time he looked at it only admiration could make him crack a lazy grin. The little deer on top where the star should have been was his own addition since he was two, and since then it had never changed.
Today would be great, not a drag at all, just a few more hours before he could sit down with his family and friends and enjoy a simple dinner that his aunt Ino would find a way to make extravagant. Everything about this lazy morning would be great, no chores and a filling breakfast made with all his favorites, his mother going all out to make sure the day started out perfectly.
Everything was perfect.
Until the sudden lowered tone broke him from his focus of the enchanting theme of the living room to his mother’s voice when she noticed what his father was doing.
He sighed.
“No mistletoe.”
The firm declaration accompanied by his mother’s darkened look as Shikadai’s father strung the twine across the door way into the living room, unconcerned about his wife’s warning behind him.
“I think it looks perfect,” Shikamaru nodded, standing back to admire the simple plant, so full of temptation and promising a kiss to anyone who stood underneath.
“What part of no mistletoe are you not understanding?” Temari stood her ground, hands on her hips and hardened her look to make her point.
“Don’t be such a grinch, you love the mistletoe,” Shikamaru chuckled, rolling a lazy glance back at Temari’s snapping remark, stepping closer to force the tone, a knowing grin growing on her lips.
“You mean you love it, because you keep finding ways to get me under it.” Caught, he played off the accusation coolly.
“I have no idea what you're talking about,” he smirked knowingly as she fought the last step towards him, anger his wife enough and she’d come to him. “All I want is to kiss my beautiful wife,” he winked, throwing charm to get her to come that pesky foot closer.
“Not this year, Nara, I know all your tricks,” Temari smirked and turned, coming face to face with the bundle of green and red hung by a shadow and scoffing as her husband peeked around her, just catching the smile that threatened to break across her face. Tricking her with the most unexpected moves, her escape being her downfall, and her husband’s prize claimed as he turned her with a trumpet smirk.
“That’s already one nothing, dear.”
“Now that’s not fair, no jutsus!” A new rule to the game, and he nodded taking on her challenge, stepping around to wrap his arms on her hips and lean in.
“Can you guys stop being gross!” Shikadai groaned, ducking behind his game screen to hide the view of his mother’s loss and his father’s stolen kiss. Hearing the amusement in both as they finally took notice of their son’s disapproval as he finally gave in and ran towards the door, going for his coat, he’d rather be early than stay around to see more of this. “I’m going out with Inojin and Chocho,” he called back, escape at the ready, his mother’s voice calling after him and halting his steps.
“Be back by noon, Shikadai! We’ve got to go pick up presents for your aunt and uncle's Christmas party tonight!”
With the reminder, he internally winced when she added more.
“You better not be late!”
Saved by her shout now pointed at his father, going for his second point of the day and he was out. Rushing into the cleared path towards the gate and grateful that he could start Christmas Day off with his best friends.
The snowflake tickled Inojin’s nose as he leaned against the side of one of the corner shops, waiting outside for Chocho as she grabbed her desired snacks for their leisurely walk around the city during the holiday season.
Shops and homes decorated in every shade of color that existed, like his paints, they lit up the white streets and gave life to the cold season. He loved this time of year, cold as it was, he enjoyed the chaotic times where people ran around searching for the perfect gifts and stocked their homes full of various goods to create the picture perfect dinners people would talk all next year about, he loved every moment of the joy it spread. He, however, knew that with perfection, came the flaws and unpredictable disasters.
This year, he feared that his mother might have taken too much on her plate, the morning rush in his home as he left, making him wince when he thought about what he’d be coming back to. Ino was a perfectionist at heart, he knew that about his mother, and his father was just as determined to please her beautifully elegant envisioned Christmas dinner party.
He heard a crystal gravy boat crash before he had shut the door behind him, really hoping they would be fine without their son for a while. The thought made him sigh heavily, the rustling of a full snack bag bringing him back to reality as Chocho came out the shop shouting.
“Shikadai over here!” Chocho called out, waving her free hand before returning to the spicy new flavor of chips they released for the holiday season, inspired by red and green peppers from her mother’s homeland of Lightning. Hearing his name, Shikadai finally stopped his search and dragged his steps towards his friends.
“Did you guys escape too?” He asked the pair as they took to his sides and began their walk around the winding streets of Konoha.
“Let me guess,” Chocho chuckled, “mistletoe again?”
“The worst tradition ever,” Shikadai groaned, venting to an amused Chocho, “they do it every year.”
“That’s so cute,” Chocho chuckled and nudged his shoulder, speaking through a mouthful, “Auntie Temari and Uncle Shikamaru are always finding reasons to show their love.”
“And what, your parents don’t do that?”
“All the time,” she shrugged, winking at him, “I’m just mature enough to not find it gross, my parents are adorable when they show their love,” she chuckled as he scoffed, “you're such a grinch, Shikadai.”
“What about you, Inojin?” Shikadai glanced over at him, pausing the next question when he caught the short glare of his best friend pointed to the ground as they walked. “What’s wrong?”
“I just,” Inojin sighed, kicking the snow as his steps dragged alongside his friends, “every time my parents host the Christmas party, it always turns out like some kind of disaster,” he blew out a heavy breath, shutting his eyes, “mom always wants it to be big and sophisticated and my dad always has to go all out for her, they always do too much and then say it’s not perfect in the end,” he stopped his walk and looked at them, “it is just so exhausting sometimes to see them do all this hard work and never get it right, like,” he raised his hands before him searching, “like something is always missing, but they can’t figure it out.”
“But auntie always does such a great job,” Chocho encouraged him, offering a smile.
“Yeah, they make the best themes each year,” Shikadai added.
“But they stress out so much over little things like spoons and what color the curtains need to be that year,” Inojin sighed, coming to look at Shikadai’s hand as he patted his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, they’ll figure it out this year.”
“Yeah,” Chocho grinned at them, “don’t stress out about it too much, Inojin, I’m sure you’ll be able to help them set it all up later too. They can always count on your artist point of view”
“I hope so.” A litter easier with the encouragement, they gave him a little boost of confidence to get things done right as soon as he went back home.
“I’m just excited for the Christmas dinner,” Chocho sighed dreamily at the thought of all the food that would be prepared for the evening.
“Of course that would be your favorite part,” Inojin rolled his eyes, looking back to Shikadai, his stance suddenly stiff and verging on looking terrified, “what’s going on Shikadai?”
“I’m late.”
“Late for what?” Inojin asked, confused.
“My mom is making me go pick up gifts with her and I was supposed to be home at noon.” They all winced at the sudden ring of a bell from the shop nearby, noon striking the trio before Shikadai took the important first step to figuring out how to apologize for being late.
“Well tell Auntie we had some late minute training to do or maybe we got held up shopping.” Chocho suggested, peeking into the chip bag to snatch the final crisp. Shikadai stopped his steps and looked between the two as they looked back at him.
“When have you ever known my mom to believe any of my lies?” Each of the kids sunk down slowly, a sudden dark cloud floating above when they realized. If there was one thing Temari scolded the children for, it was lying.
“Good point,” Inojin gave him a smile to say ‘good luck’, watching that cloud follow after Shikadai and the mumbled words of what a drag this was silenced by the cold wind being blown their way.
“It was nice knowing you, Shikadai,” Chocho called out, sharing a short laugh with Inojin before turning to leave herself, “well I’ve got very important things to get done before tonight.”
“Lunchtime,” Inojin sighed.
“You know me so well,” she chuckled, “but after lunch, dad and I have to bake the cookies for tonight, and we are going all out,” she smirked and waved back at him, leaving Inojin alone in the streets, alone with his thoughts.
The time to celebrate with family was only hours away and now it was his turn to contribute to the chaos he knew would be waiting for him at home. One step into the cleared pathway of Konoha and he braved his way home, ready to help.
Akamichi Home.
“It’s all wrong!” Chocho declared, her father releasing the millionth sigh since they decided on a brand new recipe for Christmas cookies.
An assortment of hazelnuts and walnuts picked from the trees in autumn and various jams handmade from the berries they preserved during the gathering season of their gardens. Sugar, spice, and every flavor of chocolate in between to pick the perfect ingredient for the special cookies the two had wanted to try out. The final batch missing something to tie it all up.
“It’s missing something,” Chocho glared at the bowl, just the subtle lack of some heat, but what was it?
“Let’s see we added the eggs, the sugar, the chocolate chunks,” Choji looked around the counter, brows furrowed at the stack of ingredients they had left to work with. “Walnuts? Maybe.”
“No something else,” Chocho grumbled, tapping her finger to her lips, both Akamichi’s looking to one another in thought until a third cleared her throat behind them.
“Cinnamon.”
Behind the father daughter duo, Karui lifted the container of dusted cinnamon from her homeland, a secret spice she reserved for special dinners and events, a heat that tasted so sweet.
“That’s it!” Both of the Akamichi’s shouted back to one another as Karui came forward with a victorious smirk and added two spoons into the bowl, her daughter mixing the contents with new excitement and Chocho first to taste. Their eyes glazed over in hearts, the perfect kick to the bland blend, the perfect Christmas cookie in the making.
Each of them came to kiss Karui on her cheeks in thanks as they prepared the tray for the new team-made recipe.
Yamanaka Home.
Upon entering his family home, where the Christmas dinner would be hosted, Inojin halted his steps as his father ran by with a stack of plates. Just catching the fact that each of them was a different shape, color, and size.
Inojin sighed.
The chaos he had fearfully expected.
“Hurry Sai!” His mother called out from the kitchen, “we’ve only got four hours and twenty two minutes to make this day magical!”
“Ino,” Sai called out from the dining room, “where did you say the black rimmed plates should go?”
“What black rimmed?” Ino poked her head out the kitchen, looking into the dining room. “Not the black ones, the gold ones! We need the theme of a Golden Christmas, a rich feel, one that everyone will remember.” She declared and hid in the kitchen again.
“I thought you said you wanted the theme to be subtle silvers?” Sai called back confused, Ino poking her head out again to answer.
“Remember I scrapped that idea this morning after we couldn’t find the silver pearls for the under the sea theme.”
“There was an under the sea theme?”
As Inojin predicted, chaos. His parents unable to come together on an idea, yet somehow managing to had the house spread out in six different boxed themes his mother had packed throughout the year, deciding last minute to scrap the planned themes of simple and go all out.
“Hey dad,” Inojin peeked into the dining room his father had ran into, Sai pausing the two plates he was glaring at to look over at his son.
“Inojin, you're just in time to help us decide,” he lifted the plates to him, each a similar shade of white, but one in a simple golden loop around the edges and the other dotted golden spots on its rim. “Which one seems more appetizing to eat from?”
“Their plates, dad, they honestly look the same to me.” Inojin muttered his truth and Sai slowly lowered the plates to the table, noticing the subtle drop in his son’s brows, as if he was sad.
“You know how your mother gets sometimes,” Sai offered an apologetic smile to him and bent down to put a gentle hand to his shoulder, comforting and catching his son’s gaze. “It’s our job to help her Inojin, remember this family is a team, and teams support each other through tough times.” The little boost of comfort and his father winked, a team he had said. Their family was a team.
“I don’t hear the plates being placed!”
“On it!” The two shouted in unison and began to unpack the mess around them to help their mother create her perfect dream Christmas party.
Reaching the Yamanaka home had brought the families of Nara and Akamichi together at the door, ready to step in from the freezing cold. Entering after the third unanswered knock brought suspicion glances between the adults. With a sigh, the group stepped in already knowing what they would find.
Not the greeting everyone was expecting.
It was as Inojin had predicted, chaotic.
The golden gown Ino wanted to wear still hung to its hanger in her bedroom, her husband had lost his written notes about what theme she wanted now, boxes still sat opened and decorations scattered, and her timer seemed to ignore her as it ticked away to the side of her counter. She only had two minutes left before the rolls would need to come out, but the turkey definitely needed an hour to bask under the heat. The house was still a mess, the curtains didn’t match the colors on the trees and Ino had burned not one, but two sets of rolls in the span of twenty minutes
Temari looked at Karui and the two sighed as they took the lead into the house and came to find Ino. So much to do and so little time, Ino barely noticed the two sets of eyes on her staring from the doorway of her kitchen.
A mess, and they weren’t just talking about the state of the kitchen. Ino stood over one pot, ladle in hand, but her eyes dead set in a cookbook to her right. A burning smell of smoke waving past her, apparently going unnoticed.
“Something is burning, Ino.”
Temari’s blunt observation made Ino jump, unaware of their sudden appearance, or had they been there for a couple minutes watching Ino sink in her need for perfection.
“No I set the timer for twenty minutes, see!” She looked at the side of the stove, no timer, “wait where did it go, I left it right here!”
“Timers can’t just grow legs and walk away,” Karui hummed, leaning against the other side of the doorframe.
“I know that!” The two women exchanged a look with one another, teals agreeing with the honey yellow, before Temari took a step into the kitchen to ask.
“Ino, do you-“
“No!” She veered around with the ladle in hand, splattering some of its contents on her cabinet in the process, but firm in her words, “I said I can handle this dinner alone, I said I could do it, and I will.”
“As much as we applaud your determination,” Temari stepped forward and carefully grabbed the ladle from her hand, “you don’t have to do this alone.”
“But we always take turns,” Ino blew out an exhausted breath and looked at the bubbling pot before her, watching as Karui came over and took it off the burner, “you did the dinner last year, and Karui the year before. How do you guys always manage it?”
“I cook for Akamichi’s daily, a holiday dinner is a breeze compared to after training lunch.” Karui smirked, prideful in her amazing cooking skills, an art form her clan applauded her for. A subtle ticking heard in the pot with the broken sauce, “found the timer.” She chuckled and put the pot on the sink.
“I’ve been forcing two picky eaters to eat whatever I cook since Shikadai was old enough to hold a spoon.” Temari’s own mention made with a wink, “we aren’t going to let you do this alone, we are a team remember?” Taking a moment to breath, calming down the overwhelming feeling suffocating her since last night, she took a step back and looked between the two women who had become a second family to her.
“First we’ll need a plan.” Ino threw a fist into her hand, determined and unyielding in her stance as she pointed to the women, “Temari you tackle the sides, Karui you’ve got the sauces and I’ll see if we can salvage this turkey.” The three nodded and took to their roles.
“Right,” Temari walked to the hall and let her voice call out to every corner of the house, the children appearing the moment she fixed her strict stance. “Here’s a list, we need all this stuff in the next hour, do you three accept this mission?”
“A shopping mission, count me in.” Chocho smirked, focusing on the list’s contents as Temari handed them to her.
“Sounds like a drag.” Shikadai let the annoyance fall from his face the moment his mother raised a brow and quickly fixed a hand to salute, “but we can do it.”
“Don’t worry, Auntie Temari, we’ll get everything on here.” Inojin’s addition finally made her nod her approval and nudge her head watching the three run off with a warm smile on her face. “Hurry up kids, we’ve got a lot of work to do here.” As Temari made her way back in, Ino passed her and shouted down the hall, her husband and old teammates coming forward to find out their own roles.
“We are going to need you all to decorate the dining room.” Ino looked between them.
“You want us to what?” Shikamaru raised a brow, confused.
“Set the table up,” she nodded to him. “Sai will show you what we had envisioned and we need you to plan it out, think you can do that, genius?” She turned to the counter and grabbed the wide planning binder, turning and dropping it into Shikamaru’s hands, the weight of it unexpectedly stumbling him back a step.
“What exactly were you envisioning, Ino?” Just opening the first page, he blinked at the neatly coordinated table of contents, splatters of various sauces on its sides.
“I personally loved the tones of red and green for the place setting, but Ino liked the more elegant look of silvers and golds.” Sai peeking to his side, small grin in place.
“This is definitely how Ino does things.” Shikamaru sighed.
“Beautifully.” Sai concluded for him, peeking into the kitchen to see his wife taking over and working with her team to get the meal ready.
“Why does this happen every year,” Shikamaru groaned under his breath and made his way into the living room to come up with a plan.
“Choji, get the outdoor grill ready, we’ve got lots to cook!” Karui passed the pair and towards the back door, her husband at the ready when he heard her mention of cooking.
“You got it!”
The chaos cleared itself as the InoShikaCho team split up and began to work together to get things done. The table wrapped in white clothes and chairs neatly aligned, the children standing beside and admiring the way the lights twinkled around the room, reds and greens, pops of gold and silvers, uniting the shades in a warm glow that lit the way into the elegant and thought out room Shikamaru had planned for.
The table soon filled with the aroma of food unlike any other.
A decision to be made between turkey or ham, glazed and shining like those in picture magazines, mashed potatoes done three ways, cranberry sauce to sweeten their pallets, string beans and other greens to offer that festive theme and a spread of foreign sauces and gravies for the freshly made rolls to be dipped into. Bringing not just tradition the clans held, but those from the two who had come from afar to share in the joy when their families grew from six members to nine.
In the kitchen the wave of sweets promised at the end of their holiday meal, made by hand and by a team.
“I just want to thank everyone here for helping out and creating this beautiful dinner together,” Ino let a smile grace her shining lips, her planned gown abandoned and the warm sweater dress she had kept on still holding a small flour stain from her previous task, the one she thought she could handle on her own. The team didn’t work like that though, they weren’t just three clans made to pair with one another, they worked only as a set, together they created the ancient formation of InkShikaCho and Ino had to let it be known.
“It's rather lovely,” Sai added and settled to her side as everyone slowed their admiration of the set dinner table to sit and began their meal at Choji’s call.
“Let’s give thanks and dig in!” He proclaimed, his daughter sharing in a clap and rub of their hands picking where to start first. Karui already setting down a plate for each with the perfect combination of everything on the table.
Everything was so beautifully done, Temari almost didn’t notice the bundle of green and red just peaking between the serving dishes before them. The man at her side was going for his eighth win of the day and she wasn’t having it.
“Shikamaru,” not a question, his name said in warning and Shikamaru glanced at his wife, cautiously sly in the way he played innocent. “Thought we said no mistletoe.”
“You said no mistletoes, I don’t remember agreeing.” He let the smile grow, engrossed in another potential win and the scoff of Ino to ruin it for him.
“I remember the first time you two kissed, our first Christmas together with Karui,” she threw a smile at Karui, both exchanging in the reminder of it, “under that mistletoe right there,” Ino pointed to the doorway of the house, the crooked mistletoe avoided since their families had gotten together. Shikamaru scoffed and shook his head.
“That wasn’t our first time,” the hard jab of Temari’s elbow shoving into her husband’s side made him flinch painfully. Looking at her tight smile and catching onto the darkened look just as quickly, “yeah, never mind, it was the first one, yup.” He nodded along with his wife, agreeing with her as they glanced at an unconvinced Ino shaking her head.
“Ugh they are even gross in public,” Shikadai groaned next to Inojin, though he was focused more on his mother’s face as she stood to address the others, their meals paused and looking at their hostess.
“Ok now,” she took a breath, and looked down quickly to Sai as he raised his hand to hers, holding to offer his support, she grinned wider and looked to everyone, “I know everyone was excited about the dinner and I’m sorry that things just didn’t come together as I first envisioned.” Looking around the room, the lights the golden twine and the pine smelling garlands decoration her walls and if possible smiled wider, shining the room in her own light, “It came out so much better, so thank you everyone for helping.” She sighed peacefully, the eyes of the family turned to her and raising glasses to toast and cheer at the start of their celebration.
The end of the night brought out the sweets and presents, sitting around the meticulously decorated living room and sharing the warmth of the fire with their smiles. Exchanging gifts and laughs, sharing homemade presents and an assortment of cookies the Akamichi’s had made. Thankful to be together once again, another year to be celebrated and remembered for the albums, for the future children and beyond.
A perfect night ending, the chaos long forgotten.
“I don’t think I can eat another bite,” Chocho blew out a breath, slipping on the coat as her parents did, Choji nodding along with her.
“That is one of the best dinners we’ve ever had,” he exclaimed and pecked his wife’s cheek as she chuckled, “you guys did a great job.”
“Teamwork, honey, it’s the only way to get things done around here,” Karui agreed and guided her husband and daughter out of the home, waving back to the other members of their little family as they left.
Shikamaru lifted his wife’s coat and stood back patiently to allow her to put it on, his son leaned against the wall to put his boots on and turning as they went to leave. Two ready at the door, and the third member of their family clearing her throat to get their attention.
“One more thing,” Temari called back to her husband, his step stopping at the doorway and looking back as she met her approach with a pointed finger at the top of the doorframe, “do I win?” Her question met with her husband glancing up and shutting his eyes, smiling as he realizing he was caught under the mistletoe.
“You always do,” Shikamaru grinned fondly down to her as she neared, caught in the triumphant teals looking back, the sharp lines softening as they exchanged a kiss at the doorway.
“Stop being gross!” Shikadai groaned as he passed them, avoiding his parents to squeeze out the door and into the brisk air. “Next year, I’m spending the holidays with Shinki and my uncles in Suna.” Shikadai grumbled as he passed his parents, stomping his steps with a huff down the stairs.
“Shikadai, don’t be such a grinch!” His mother called down, following the steps at the same pace as her husband did, arms linked and happy. Leaving behind Ino and Sai to wave their final farewells outside on the porch and look to their son as he turned to them at the doorway.
“You guys did great this year,” he admitted, flashing the same wide grin as his mother did, sharing in the moment as Sai offered his own toothless smile.
“We have one more special gift for you,” Sai hummed, his smile spreading.
“Something to make tonight perfect,” Ino added with a wink.
“Really?” Inojin asked in surprise, wondering what could his parents give him that he already hadn’t gotten?
Ino glanced at Sai and they each stepped to their son's side and leaned down to kiss his cheeks, a burst of laughter sounding when he realized he had been standing under the mistletoe they had placed under the doorway.
A perfect present to end the night with.
Coming together as a family and spreading that joy, it’s what the kids always remembered at the end of the beautifully chaotic day.