Chapter 4
"What do you mean Kakashi is gone!?" Tsunade exclaimed in disbelief. The autopsy was crystal clear that it was Kakashi and he was dead. "Alright.. Sakura! Send out a word to every available shinobi. They are to search for the missing Kakashi body, it appears that the secrets of the sharingan and the Leaf Village are in danger." Tsunade sent Sakura away and called Shikamaru to follow her to the office. Walking into Tsunade's office, both Tsunade and Shikamaru were surprised by a voice,
"Tsunade! You know what the disappearance of Kakashi could mean!" Jiraiya said in a panic.
"Yes Jiraiya... but we don't know if that is true.."
"Tsunade you know as much as I that he would do this."
Shikamaru was confused by their conversation, who could they be talking about.
"Sorry to interrupt Lady Tsunade.. but who are you talking about? Shikamaru asked, in hopes of clearing up the confusion.
"...There is a possibility that Orochimaru is behind the abduction of Kakashi's body. He has always been after the sharingan... and it looks like he might have it." Jiraiya explained with sorrow.
"Think again Jiraiya." A voice rang out through the room. All three of the ninjas in the room got into fighting positions as the speaker of the voice stepped into view from the window. It was non other than Orochimaru himself.
"How dare you step inside this village after what you did to it!" Tsunade exclaimed in anger, charging at Orochimaru with intent to kill.
"Now now, Tsunade, is that anyway to welcome an old friend? That is no way for the Hokage to be acting now is it?" Orochimaru spoke these words calmly, while dodging Tsunade's attacks effortlessly it seems. His body never seemed to fight with itself, but only shift into the next movement. His movements fluid and agile, the amount of skill of the sannin was incredible, and causing Shikamaru to shake in fear.
In one quick motion, almost over before it even began, Jiraiya appeared behind Orochimaru and bound Orochimaru's arms and legs with his hair. Lady Tsunade charged and landed a smashing blow to Orochimaru's face, causing his head to snap to the side with a sickening crack. It was quiet for a couple seconds before Orochimaru's body started wriggling, with his mouth opening up wide. To Shikamaru's surprise, Orochimaru started climbing out of the shell of a body with an evil smile across his face.
Laughing manically, "You two are as weak as always I see, but I did not come here to fight. I came here to offer a temporary alliance to stop a common enemy." His words even seemed snake like, as they hissed out of his mouth. "Kabuto, nice of you to join us."
Kabuto stepped out of the shadows surprising everyone, "There is no fooling you is there Lord Orochimaru." He had a smile across his face as he was now the center of attention. Shikamaru was freaking out being in the same room as all these insanely powerful ninjas. In just a quick second everything could go wrong, Shikamaru wouldn't stand a chance if Orochimaru or Kabuto targeted him.
"I assure you Tsunade, or should I call you Hokage, Orochimaru's offer is real. One of our spies in the Mist village has given us intelligence that the Akatsuki are about to move. Now usually we would sit back and watch everyone take each other out, but the Akatsuki has partnered with a new group... a group unseen before. There powers mystify even the great Orochimaru. They seem to be able to permanently seal away a persons power to use jutsu." Kabuto fixed his glasses and walked to stand next to Orochimaru.
No one spoke at this, as they all thought about what was just reveled. Shikamaru was shaking at the aspect. Permanently seal away someone's ability to use jutsu! How is that even possible, he thought. Do they block the chakra network somehow like Neji.. or do they destroy it. It's a very terrifying thought.
"Orochimaru... what are you planning?" Jiraiya said, obviously suspicious of his old teammate. "I know you wouldn't come to us unless you were planning something. I doubt this secret group even exists."
"That is where you're wrong Jiraiya." A voice rung out through the office. A voice that made Tsunade and Jiraiya tense up. A man appeared in the room, wearing a black cloak with red clouds on it. He stood with the presence of knowing. A knowing that he is extremely powerful and has nothing to worry about in a room filled with the sannin. Shikamaru was confused about why they tensed up at his voice. Who was he? Someone answered his question with only two words.
"Itachi Uchiha." Jiraiya said in a serious tone. Shikamaru's eyes widened at his name. Thee Itachi Uchiha! The massacre of the Uchiha clan was done by him. One of only two Uchiha's left, and undoubtedly one of the most powerful ninja's in the world... but why was he here?
"Well not only two enemies of the Leaf village in my office.. but three." Tsunade exclaimed at the odd situation before her. She looked over at Shikamaru and noticed how terrified he must be in this situation. Only a few in the world wouldn't be terrified in his position at his skill level. She wanted to get him out of here, but knew Orochimaru and Itachi would take it as sending for reinforcements. He would have to stay strong for now.
Itachi bowed to his knee in front of Tsunade, to the surprise of everyone in the room except Orochimaru. "Please, Lady Tsunade... Listen to Orochimaru's claim. It is very accurate."
"Why do you care Itachi? You betrayed the village." Tsunade questioned.
"I can tell that the only way for this to go forward, I must tell you all the truth of the Uchiha massacre." Itachi said while still kneeling. He went on to tell how Danzo asked him to take action to save the village against the Uchiha's plan to destroy it. How he had sacrificed everything for the idea of peace in the village. Everyone's face was in shock at the news as they all couldn't believe things like this went on in the shadows.
"This is shocking news.." Tsunade exclaimed as Itachi finished. Jiraiya stood defensively, neither letting his guard down, or raising it more. He was unsure of a lot of things, but knew Itachi spoke the truth.
There was silence in the room for what seemed like an eternity. Shikamaru was frozen in place. He just wanted to get out of the room. Although he went through every possible outcome of the situation, he had about a forty five percent chance to come out of this alive if it went bad.
"There is nothing to fear. No one here will hurt you." Itachi said to Shikamaru after glancing at him. His sharingan dissecting every little detail of the room. Shikamaru was shaking slightly, his eyes fidgeting, and his his teeth clenched.
"Well I wouldn't say that Itachi." Orochimaru said with an evil glance at Shikamaru. His blood lust, filled the room, freezing Shikamaru.
"I stopped you before Orochimaru, and I'll do it again." Itachi said, glaring at Orochimaru. He took a step forward and the blood lust disappeared. Shikamaru fell to the ground, breathing very hard and wishing he could just leave. He was in the room with the most vicious monsters of the ninja world and he was terrified.
"Shikamaru! I have a new mission for you. Make sure Naruto and Sakura do not learn that Orochimaru and Itachi are here... the last thing we need while we figure this out is for them to make things worse. I need you to round up team Guy, team 8 and team 10. Tell them to gather their gear and prepare for more orders. Find Sai and Gaara as well. They are powerful assets" Tsunade ordered more as a way to get him out of here, then anything.
Shikamaru slowly got up, and before he left he looked Orochimaru in the eyes and said, "I may not be the strongest ninja in the village... but I would die for this village.." Then he left. Tsunade smirked at Shikamaru's bravery. It takes a special kind of ninja to look Orochimaru in the eyes and defy his power. He will be one of the best ninja's this village has ever seen and she is proud to have known him.
"He sure is an interesting one isn't he" Orochimaru seemed to hiss. The last time he was in this village he almost destroyed it. Things seem to be back to normal. The idea of the village moving on and forgetting his terror upsets him.
Shikamaru ran fast through the village. Looking for the people listed by Lady Tsunade. He knew Hinata and Gaara were at the hospital, as well as Neji and Ten Ten, so that is where he should go first. He would have to dodge Sakura as well, and that might be quite difficult... this is such a drag. Can't there ever be a moment of peace for a ninja?
The hospital was bare, almost void of people as Shikamaru walked in. Which he realized was to his disadvantage once a voice rang out, calling him.
"Shikamaru! What are you doing here?" Sakura asked, casually running towards him. "What did Lady Tsunade say about the Kakashi ordeal?"
He had to think fast, he could not let her know about the situation at the office. Just the mention of Orochimaru usually sends her into a frenzy. "Well, they are having a meeting with the village elders to make a plan. They believe Kakashi's body was stolen by enemy ninja's to uncover the secrets of our village. They do not want to be disturbed and I came here to talk to Gaara."
"Why aren't you there if they are discussing this matter? Arn't you one of Lady Tsunade's lead advisors?" Sakura said confused.
"This was deemed too important and dire for someone like me. They called in my father to handle the situation. I have no experience with this type of matter, and have no valid input on the matter."
"That makes sense... but why do you need to talk to Gaara?.. Shikamaru, is there something you arn't telling me?" Sakura asked glaring at Shikamaru.
"I wanted to ask Gaara about Shukaku, his tailed beast that as taken out of him. I was tasked with finding as much information on the tailed beasts, and jinchuuriki remember? I find this the best time to talk with Gaara as he is mostly busy with being Kazakage." Shikamaru said in hopes of convincing Sakura.
Sakura looked at Shikamaru for awhile, not shifting her gaze. Then smiled. " Yeah, sorry. I have been on edge lately. Well I'm going to the flower shop to get some flowers for Naruto." She walked out with a smile.
Shikamaru sighed in relief. That was nerve racking. He started walking towards Naruto's room to see if Gaara was there. He hoped he would come by no more obstacles. His hopes were crushed as he walked into Naruto's room.
"Hey Shikamaru!" A shout rang out through the room. The voice was coming from Naruto who was in bed with Gaara sitting next to him in a chair. Things just got much harder.