Tsunade's POV
I had finished at least three stacks of paperwork and I haven't even made a dent. I sighed. "Sometimes I feel like I'll never be done." I muttered to myself as I rested one elbow on the desk and my head in my hand.
I opened my top right drawer and gazed at the picture that lay on the bottom. It was last Christmas when it was taken. It was only of Nozomi, Naruto and Shikamaya. Nozomi smiled gently, I had never noticed how wise she looked when she did that. Shikamaya was rolling her eyes since Naruto, at the last minute, had put a pair of holiday deer antlers on her, despite that there was a faint smile on her face. Naruto's eyes were shut because he was laughing so hard as he pointed at Shikamaya.
I smiled despite the fact that there will never be another time like that again. Nozomi was dead. Naruto was off training. Shikamaya was the only one of the three here and she hated me for what I did. The day Nozomi died was a day never liked to remember for several reasons.
Flashback
Nami turned her back to me. I saw her arms move like she was making hand signs. A large puff of smoke surrounded the girls, when the smoke cleared they were gone. They didn't leave her body, they took Nozomi away.
My legs gave out. WHAT THE HELL HAVE I DONE?
Jiraiya stared at the spot where Nozomi gave her last breath.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?" I heard Shikamaya screech. I turned my head slightly, my eyes widened in shock.
They were all standing, unhurt, all alive.
"Genjutsu." Kurenai said before I could ask. "I didn't make it. Nami did. Very talented at it. Though she did go a bit overboard..." Kurenai trailed off. It had been obvious she was trying to distract us from what had just happened but everyone just gave her a look that said 'Is this really the time for that?'
"I can't believe you..." Shikamaya growled. "You killed her..." her shoulders were shaking with rage and sorrow. "I hate you!" She spat before she took off deeper into the forest.
I got up to go after her but I suddenly couldn't move. Shikamaru had me trapped in his Shadow Paralysis Jutsu. I could have broken out but I just didn't have the mental strength.
"Let her go. She just needs to blow off some steam." Shikamaru said releasing me.
Everyone slowly left, Inari had gone after Shikamaya. I was alone.
End Flashback
Shikamaya still hated me for what I did. She never looked at me, whenever she gave a report to me from a mission she'd just drop the papers on my desk and walk out. My gaze traveled back to the picture.
Shikamaya... You were always so distant and hid things with your lazy nature and bored expressions... What have you been bottling up all these years...?
Shikamaya's POV
I moved my rook.
"Checkmate." Shikamaru said.
Dam!
"You've been making beginner mistakes, sloppy, un-thought out and aggressive moves for a while now." Shikamaru said gathering up his pieces. I glared at him, he flinched momentarily then his usual lazy expression returned. "I don't think you've noticed but this has been going on since before Nozomi died."
I looked at him in surprise. "I know... I've just been so frustrated lately."
"It's a lot of pressure being the leader of a large group." Shikamaru said. "After Nozomi left it fell to you and Naruto. Now that Naruto's gone for a while you're in charge."
"Don't remind me." I sighed. "What a drag."
"I think you do need to be reminded of it."
Huh?
"You know they look solely to you for leadership now. Before it was a joint leadership of Nozomi, Naruto and you." Shikamaru had finished setting up his pieces while I hadn't even touched mine. They still sat in the same spots. "If you act depressed, spiteful, angry; then so will your subordinates. Also you holding onto your anger at Lady Tsunade doesn't help either."
"I can't help but be angry with her."
"That may be true but Nozomi, in her own eyes, was the necessary sacrifice to win the game and complete the mission."
I hate it when he's right...
Kitsune's POV
"Pervy Sage why did we have to leave right before winter? Why couldn't we have left as Spring started or something?" Naruto complained as we traveled down a snowy road.
"Because then you would have complained about the rain or the heat." Jiraiya said annoyed. "Besides you have a neck warmer."
"Very funny." I muttered. Here I am one of the most powerful beings in this dimension and the highest status I get is a neck warmer? Great.
I looked up at the falling snow. There was a gap in the clouds shaped like an angel.
Nozomi... I guess you're watching huh?- Naruto
Naruto barely started walking again when a searing pain went through my heart.
Did you felt it too, Runt?
Yeah... What was that?- Naruto
I have no idea...
"Naruto! Hurry up!"
Jiraiya had stopped when he was almost out of our sight.
"HEY! Wait up!" Naruto took off running. I glanced back up at the clouds as he ran to catch up to Jiraiya. The wings were gone.
I curled up next to Naruto that night. The light of the quarter moon shown right through the tent canvas. I was just about to go to sleep when I heard a single wolf's howl in the distance. With Sumi for a sister I understood the wolves' complex system of howls. This wolf was telling the pack it was coming home with food. The lone female wolf's howl was returned with warmth and welcome.
I was never one for signs but that was just too weird...
