Roots

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Chapter Four

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His expression was rigid,his orbs emphasized towards the members of Unit One. Ignored the reaction of the group. His face remained hidden, just a bare glance of his expression. Sasuke whispered towards the Hokage. All the spectators remained silent. Shikamaru looked at his father way. Was he loosing his mind?

The moon illuminated the night. Bright and observant like Neji's eyes. Always making dramatic entrances in Shikamaru's opinion.

Everyone remained silent. Observing every move of the Uchiha. But, not Shikamaru. His eyes traced his father. He had formed the units. Shikaku was the one who placed Neji in the middle of the landfill. And the one on putting their asses in charge of Sasuke Uchiha.

Shikaku returned a expression. As if to tell him that sentimentality wasn't going to achieve anything when he was in command. Not even if it meant pissing off his own son.

"Tsunade-sama! How can-" Naruto began.

"Yamato and Kakashi. If any of the orders for the mission are broken by any of the units, you are to return them back to Konoha." She glanced hard at Naruto. "He is in debt with Konoha. But, this mission requires the Uchiha. Whether any of you like it or not. That goes for you Unit One. Every command of your leader shall be obeyed, Sakura and Naruto you know the consequences of interfering. This is not a mission I'm gonna gamble with..."

They stood still.

"Good." Tsunade continued. "Your destination is Yumenakure. Small land they informed me of some really strange activity. Said something about The Five Moons Temple. There has been many complaints of activity of unusual chakra. Said it was similar to the monsters who invaded us in the Fourth War, you know who I'm talking about. Similar to Kaguya's. Your mission, find out the source of the chakra from the Five Moons and destroy it."

They knelt. All units gathering with their members when Tsunade signaled them to move to each of their units. Shikamaru felt Neji's glare. Yeah, their leader wasn't about to appreciate the state of the Nara. And no one seemed really comfortable with the idea of the main unit having the Uchiha as the main leader.

Choji approached him. His eyes fixated on his best friend, then on the Uchiha who stood in the middle of the gates. Waiting for them to approach.

"I would say I'm worried about you, and why you came half-alive, Shikamaru. But, now I'm more worried about being deep-fried with the Unit leader."

"It's not only you who is going to get deep-fried. Me and Hyūga don't do well with world criminals." Neji's body felt hard, his muscles rigid. It was enough body language to make Shikamaru know that the Hyūga wasn't fond of the idea of following orders of the Uchiha. "Troublesome, like it or not we got to get moving our asses towards the Drama Queen."

Neji turned his head. His smirk softened any anxiety of dealing with Sasuke.

"Why don't you say it straight to his face,Nara?"

"You really wanna murder me, don't you?"

Their conversation was interrupted. Out of the blue the Uchiha had appeared in front of them. His cloak off. Not need to brag about his looks, not like he was dealing with Ino or Sakura.

Shikamaru almost jumped, Neji went almost in a protective stance, and Choji flinched away.

"Unit One, get moving." Soft and lethal commands. "Hyūga, you need to guard Nara. Since he seems incompetent to carry his own feet. All Units move!"

Shikamaru wanted to retort something smart, but knew better than disobey the cold stone Uchiha. As if he was reading his mind the black orbs detached any attention towards him, solely focused on the Hyūga, specially the pale orbs Neji possessed. Neji glared back, his cold stare never affecting the Uchiha. Shikamaru saw how Sasuke graced his expression with a focused mind, as if trying to read Neji's eyes.

"Hyūga, you know the orders."

"Yeah, I'm to stay out of the Temple of the Five Moons. Not all Byakugan users are devils,Uchiha." But both of them knew the Byakugan proceded from a cursed lineage. "I'm not an Ōtsutsuki."

That order alone was why Shikamaru knew Neji was delivered a specific order. Which meant the Hyūga was to be used in one way or another in the middle of the mission, like some laboratory-mouse. Not in his watch, Shikamaru was already working with what he had so far.

To their surprise the Uchiha simply nodded. Tilted his head towards the open gates of Konoha. In the middle of them the moon stood high and mighty, Shikamaru turned to see the Uchiha move, Choji followed unsure of what to do. And then again Shikamaru glanced at the high moon. The orbs that observed him baffled with the moon sparked with amusement.

"Glancing at the moon? Does it bring you memories?"

"Oh, don't wanna sound romantic Hyūga, but the moon sure suits your eyes." Neji's eyes glittered with humor, "What? Don't know how to take a compliment?"

"I'm not going to squeel over it."

"The only thing that squeals in Konoha is Tonton." He deadpanned, "I will kill to be that pig right now. Maybe, I could at least evade all my cursed luck. Just laying like a lazy animal and eat whenever I move my tail for Tsunade."

Both moved at the same time. Neji carrying Shikamaru's deadweight, served him right. He did broke his fucking ribs. He placed his face on the Hyūga's left shoulder. His smirk appeared as soon as Neji felt he placed more weight on him on purpose.

"Happy? Serves you right. Another score in the book." He felt his vicious mind focused on the favorite memory he had of Neji. "Want a change of hairstyle while I'm here? Braids are my speciality."

He heard Neji growl.

"Never again."

"Oh, but you just looked better than...Argh! What the hell?!" A branch connected straight to his face, "Low move."

"Deadweight doesn't talk, Shikamaru."

"Well, this deadweight is your fucking strategist. Not gonna risk losing one member of the main unit..." he yawned loudly, "Wouldn't mind losing the Uchiha though. Don't mind if I take a nap?"

Neji turned his head, his eyes widened a little.

"I cannot believe how low can you act in such a mission."

"Yeah, who broke my ribs? You owe me more than a nap."

"Sometimes I've really question if you truly are a genius."

"Sometimes I question myself of why I bother dealing with you. Then again the braids make up for all your sins against my ribs and pride." He closed his eyes. The shadows of the trees and the movement of the Hyūga's feet relaxed him. This time he could rest, sure that the Hyūga wasn't a ghost. It was flesh and bones, it was alive. "Don't you sleep on me again,Hyūga..."

The Hyūga responded in a silent tune. His words made Shikamaru rest peacefully in body and soul.

"Don't worry, Nara. It's too troublesome..."

"That isn't Hyūga like." Another loud yawn was heard in his back, Shikamaru's head rested in his shoulder. This time he didn't do it on purpose. He fell asleep

"You always break my expectations,Nara."

The Units moved through the forest, it would take them two days to arrive. He observed the moon. Shikamaru could appreciate its beautiful appearance, but Neji only saw a giant orb that consumed the light of the sun. Selfishly displaying its power in the dark. Then again, he wasn't any different from it. Always taking anything from the Nara. Never restricted his head to give back what he had to offer towards Shikamaru.

Thanks for reading! I'm making this slow, but even now I'm writing each day! Thanks for reading!