Hi!! I love your Kazekage Temari and Sunan Shikadai!! I know you said you are not thinking about making it a fic and I totally respect that, I just wanted to know if you have thought of other headcanons for this universe 💕 like for example if shikamaru and temari ever see each other and how do those moments go, shikadai's relationship with his mom and dad, or his dad's friends and family, in which sense shikadai thinks they still like each other (does shikamaru ever send temari gifts? Is it about the way they speak about each other?), if shinki exists or not.
Sorry if it's a very loaded question, I am just soo caught up with the lore ahah you can also don't answer if you aren't that invested in this alternative universe, i don't mind - i am just going to take this little space to say that I love your artstyle!!
Kisses!!
Oh my gosh, ty for the lovely note! Not a loaded question at all-- I wanted to answer after I had somewhat finished the piece above. Here are some updates to the original headcanon with Shinki included:
Following the events of Gaara Hiden, the Council are still disillusioned with Shikamaru and Temari being married, especially because Gaara and Kankuro do not have any kids or romantic prospects.
Gaara takes in a young orphan boy named Shinki who demonstrates a great Iron Sand ability. The Council fears that Gaara is raising him to be the next heir, which is a problem because they don’t know who Shinki’s parents are.
Suna is very traditional and prefers that every leader have direct ancestry to the past Kazekages.
The Council fears that Shinki is an omen to Suna’s future.
(retcon) Shinki is a 2 years older than Shikadai, so he’s more adept at wielding chakra at this time.
The Council gives Gaara an ultimatum: (1) release Shinki from his care, get married, and produce a biological heir; or (2) step down from the Kazekage role. The Council gives Gaara three years to make a decision (I originally said five years, but I’m retconning it to three lol). Shikadai is 2 years old and Shinki is 4 years old at this time.
Baki warns the siblings that the Council is planning a takeover, and to avoid this at all costs.
Knowing Gaara will step down to protect Shinki, Temari returns to Sunagakure with Shikadai (5 years old) to prevent a takeover from the Council led by Ebizo and Tojuro. This appeases the Council and the public, because now they have a future biological heir living with them.
Tired of the politics, Gaara eventually steps down. Temari assumes the Kazekage title with Kankuro as her second-in-command.
Temari and Shikamaru divorce for the official record.
Shinki, Yodo, and Araya have their own team/clique. Shikadai joins them occasionally on missions, but he feels like an outsider.
Do Temari and Shikamaru still like each other?
They do not talk at Kage Summits. It is a running joke that if they need to communicate on important matters, they will send notes through like twenty different people before it reaches the other.
When they do talk about each other, they don’t say names. Instead, Shikamaru will say “How’s the tornado?” or “Did the cyclone die down, yet?” and Shikadai knows he is referring to his mother. Temari calls him “your idiot father.”
On a few occasions, she’ll receive unmarked flowers, or a basket of chocolate and sweet chestnuts at her office. Shikadai suspects Shikamaru is sending her these items because few people know they are her favorite treats.
Shikamaru has an on-and-off again relationship with Shiho from the Cryptography unit. They go on a few dates but he’s not completely invested.
People encourage Shira to ask out Temari; neither of them entertain this.
On the surface, Shikadai pretends not to care. But the thought of his parents dating other people makes him viscerally sick.
Shikadai’s relationship with Shikamaru (when he visits Konoha).
Thinks his dad is lazy, awkward and underwhelming.
Finds Shikamaru’s friends and neighbors annoying and overly-friendly, considering he didn’t grow up with them (e.g. Inojin, Chocho, Mirai, Boruto).
He does like Yoshino as she coddles him in ways his mother doesn’t. Shikamaru complains that she is spoiling her grandson.
Doesn’t know his father’s jutsus, but is very adept at planning strategies himself.
Is disappointed that Shikamaru allowed their family to be separated. Thinks his dad didn’t fight for them. But the truth is more complicated :(
They manage to bond over Shogi. But it always ends in a stalemate.
This moment is captured in the illustration above, with Shikamaru apologizing for his mistakes as a father and husband.
