A.N. - I surprise myself, sometimes. I actually remembered to post this, only a week after the last chapter, too. Enjoy!
"So how do you feel?" Sakura asked.
"Like crap" Shikamaru groaned, bedridden.
"I'm a little worried, I'll admit" Sakura sighed, taking note of the bags underneath Shikamaru's eyes, visible despite the dark pigment of the characters covering his body.
"I just didn't get much sleep" Shikamaru yawned, listening as Chouji and Ino argued over what kind of meal would benefit Shikamaru most.
"That's the problem" Sakura replied. "If you of all people-" Shikamaru rolled his eyes "can't get to sleep, there must be something wrong" she concluded.
"There's just a lot on my mind" Shikamaru sighed.
"Care to shar-"
'I'm flattered' the voice returned.
'Are you incapable of letting me be, for five minutes?' Shikamaru replied.
'But we've always been this close' it replied.
'Back then, you didn't feel the need to speak up, let alone manifest like this' Shikamaru continued.
'You've never given me the opportunity to do so' the voice clarified.
'Why did this have be psychologically linked to me, instead of some demon in my head, like Naruto' the Nara groaned.
'But then you'd be able to simply ignore me, or at least stifle my presence into non-existence' it deduced. 'I know you don't envy that inhuman fool, progeny of a ruler concerned with trivialities!' the voice berated.
A tic developed on the Nara's head.
'Oh, did I upset you?' the voice teased once more. 'I don't know why' it continued. 'After all, I am no more than a collection of your underlying thoughts, remember?'
Shikamaru's visage grew tempestuous.
'Oh!' sardonic laughter rang throughout his mind. 'That's the problem, isn't it!' more taunting laughter echoed throughout 'You don't like knowing what the real you thinks!'
Silence
"Care to share that with the rest of us?" Sakura asked. "If you're losing an entire night's sleep over it, despite going through chakra exhaustion, you may need to talk to someone about it" she suggested.
Shikamaru didn't answer.
"Well?" Sakura prompted. "Shikamaru?" she asked, noticing his eyes seemed glazed over.
She snapped her fingers in front of him. No reaction.
"Ino!" the medic called "get over here, now!" she demanded. The sound of pots and silverware clattering to the ground was heard, then Ino and Chouji were beside her in an instant.
"What is it?" Ino asked, Chouji already waving a hand in front of the Nara's face.
"Shika?" Chouji called, gently shaking his friend.
"He isn't quite unconscious, I think" Sakura informed them. "But I'm not really sure what's going on" she continued. "He just sat there like this, after I asked a question."
"Well, this looks like more than just a bit of contemplation" Chouji muttered. "He looks angry, actually" he noted, eying the tic near Shikamaru's eye.
"As far as mental conditions go, this is your forte" Sakura said. "He hasn't blinked yet, either" she added.
"I won't go jumping into his head without a little more prompti-" Shikamaru's expression darkened considerably "whoa!" she announced.
"I haven't seen this one in a while" Chouji mused, examining Shikamaru's visage. "He. Is. Pissed." Chouji decided.
"Yeah" Ino agreed, breathless. "Why is he letting off Killing intent, though?" she muttered. "I suppose, this is as good an indicator as any" she decided.
"Didn't know Shikamaru could get angry enough to move past annoyed" Sakura marveled.
"I wonder what got him so-" Chouji began.
Shikamaru started, blinking his eyes rapidly.
"Why is everyone staring at me?" the Nara asked, eyes closed as he massaged his eyelids.
"You were in a bit of a stupor for about a minute or two" Chouji informed him.
'Seems we may need to practice on that' the voice chimed in.
"Is that so?" Shikamaru sighed.
'Yes, it is' the voice replied.
"Care to explain?" Ino asked.
"Shut up" Shikamaru growled.
"Excuse me?" Ino asked, confused and not just a little upset with Shikamaru's response.
"Shika?" Chouji asked, confused as well.
"Perhaps I should've brought Hinata or Neji over" Sakura replied.
'It seems you've upset two of your emotional crutches, as well as the bipolar medic' the voice informed.
'I thought I told you to-' Shikamaru noticed the three staring at him once more.
"I must be even more tired than I thought" Shikamaru announced, rubbing at his sore eyes. "I thought I was asleep" he lied, sighing.
'At least you don't have any Hyuuga in here to call your bull' the voice reassured him. 'Not that I believe you've convinced them, either' it remarked.
Shikamaru took a deep breath, relaxing his jaw after gritting his teeth so tightly. 'I may need that practice after all' he conceded.
"I'm just going to try for another nap, alright?" Shikamaru asked. "Sorry guys, but I'm going to need my room to be quiet for a while" he informed them. "You're welcome to stay in the other rooms for as long as you need"
'No, they aren't actually'
"But try to keep any noise down, alright?" he asked, turning over and shutting his eyes before they could respond.
A clear dismissal.
"Alright" Chouji nodded. "Just" he floundered for an answer. "Enjoy your rest" he finished, walking out.
'You're a great friend' the voice informed him, sardonic laughter echoing within his mind.
"It's possible that Shikamaru's mental state may have been affected by this 'bond' thing?" Minato sighed.
"That is correct" the Anbu nodded.
"Maintain surveillance" Minato instructed.
"Should the Nara prove to be a danger to himself or others?"
"You are to detain him immediately."
"Very well" the Anbu replied, vanishing.
"That is rather unfortunate" Hiruzen lamented "given how bright the boy is, as well as the status of his father, the Jounin commander of all people" he sighed.
"What a time for Shikaku to be on an extended mission" Minato groaned. "What's he going to think when he comes back?"
"Returning to find his son a Jounin, bedridden after his first mission due to an encounter with Akatsuki that left him physically and mentally wounded, possibly with permanent effects" Hiruzen mused. "He may be upset, perhaps."
"He may be?" Minato sighed. "Shikaku will have a fit!" he moaned. "According to the medical reports, Shikamaru should recover soon. It's possible that he's simply dealing with having to overcome chakra exhaustion multiple times in a row, is all" Minato explained.
"An optimistic view" Hiruzen observed.
"Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best" Minato shrugged.
"That seems to be all a Hokage can do at times" Hiruzen nodded.
"It sucks" Minato added.
"It was in the job descript-"
"Hey, old man!" Naruto barged through the door, interrupting their discussion. "Oh" he noticed Hiruzen. "How've you been, gramps?" he asked.
"You still don't knock, son" Minato sighed, shaking his head.
"I've been well, Naruto" Hiruzen chuckled.
"Good to hear" the boy smiled, turning back to his father. "So-"
"If I had a mission for you, I'd have sent a messenger" the Fourth interrupted.
That wasn't what I came to ask about" Naruto scowled, crossing his arms and thinking of another question.
"Oh~, did you come to give your old man a hug like you used to?" Minato teased.
"I haven't done that in years, I'm not a child!" Naruto replied, questions forgotten.
"You're all children to me, though" Hiruzen commented, taking another content puff from his pipe.
"That's because you're ancient" both blondes replied.
The retired Third Hokage simply smiled at the duo.
"Wait!" Naruto announced "I wanted to know why you haven't announced anything about Akatsuki, yet" he demanded.
"We're still learning things from the prisoners we've collected" Minato sighed. "Not to mention waiting for a shinobi from Suna to arrive and escort our guests to their home."
"Why not just send some of our own shinobi to do it & come back?" Naruto asked.
"Not all of the people traveling have been cleared for any sort of prolonged activity, just yet" Minato answered.
"Temari seemed just fine, to me" Naruto mused. "And her two attendants are probably better off than Shikamaru is, at any rate" he shrugged. "I don't know who wouldn't be alright to…." his eyes narrowed.
Minato sighed as Hiruzen motioned for Naruto to continue.
"You're sending Shikamaru to Suna too?" Naruto stated. "For what?" he demanded. "How do you expect him to return without anyone to have his back?"
"Shikamaru has been given the week, and a little extra, to recover" Minato spoke slowly, reassuringly. "He will be traveling with Chouji and Ino, too" he added. "Plus, the team isn't leaving until the Shinobi from Suna gets here, the prisoners have been secured and Shikamaru recovers from his episode."
Hiruzen coughed. Minato cursed.
"Episode?" Naruto tilted his head in confusion. "Something else is up with Shikamaru now?" he crossed his arms.
"He's still recovering from the chakra exhaustion" Minato explained. "The Nara clan isn't known for having vast reserves of chakra, so of course he'd be a little disoriented after going through such a severe state of depletion, twice" he finished.
"Oh…. kay" Naruto tilted his head again. "I'm going to go check up on him, just to be sure" he informed the group. "And also, why-"
"No, you cannot go with them to Suna" Minato preempted the question. "Seven shi-"
"A group of seven shinobi traveling at once is already risky, because of the difficulties in communication and coordination, among many other factors" Naruto recited, groaning. "I know, I know" he sighed, waving goodbye to the two.
"At least he's aware of the situation" Hiruzen commented, a stream of smoke billowed from his nostrils.
"That doesn't mean he has to like it" Minato sighed. "It's all too easy to simply leave the village for a few days unnoticed" he mused. "But, I trust him to not make that kind of call."
Shikamaru managed to sleep for a few hours, before he awoke abruptly, the shoddily repaired front door of his apartment opened slowly.
That does not mean it did not protest loudly, with much creaking and general difficulty.
"Damnit, why is this door such crap!?" a voice exclaimed from the living room. Shikamaru relaxed.
'A fool has arrived'
Shikamaru scowled, having hoped that the voice would be gone by this time.
"What do you want, Naruto?" Shikamaru called, not bothering to rise from his bed.
A few moments later, Naruto walked into the room, taking note of the fatigue almost radiating off of the Nara.
"Well?" Shikamaru asked, yawning.
"You look like hell" the blonde observed.
'A blunt fool'
Shikamaru sighed.
"Thanks for that" Shikamaru drawled. "Did you break into my home just to tell me that, or is something up?" he asked.
'How unfortunate, you aren't capable of speaking the language of fools' the voice lamented.
'Can you just, shut up!' Shikamaru's eyes narrowed.
Naruto tilted his head in confusion.
'In theory, not a sound is being made' the voice replied. 'Perhaps you're even more tired than you thought' it chuckled. 'Should I take over the conversation?
The fool seems to be lost, without you' all went silent.
Shikamaru's eyes widened, darting to check on Naruto.
"You okay?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at the Nara's expression.
"I'm fine" Shikamaru quickly replied.
"I'm not so su-"
"Actually" Shikamaru interrupted.
'He must leave, if solitude is what you want' the voice suggested.
"I need to catch up on a bit of sleep, so could you come back lat-"
'The next day.'
"Tomorrow, if you don't mind?" Shikamaru asked.
"Oh, sure thing" Naruto moved to the door. "I'll be back tomorrow, with Chouji and the gang" he assured him.
'Grand' the voice replied, heavy with disdain.
"Thanks, Naruto" Shikamaru grinned.
Naruto smiled back, leaving the Nara to his own devices.
After an intense struggle with the door, the Uzumaki's distinct chakra slowly disappeared, indicating that he had left the area.
Shikamaru sighed. 'What must I do to get rid of you?' he seethed at himself.
'What purpose would it serve, to remove a part of yourself?' it responded after a moment.
"That's it!" Shikamaru growled, extricating himself from the bed.
'A temper? Your self-control appears to be waning' it remarked.
Shikamaru moved to his window, opening it and leaping onto the rooftops.
The Anbu on watch was startled by his sudden appearance.
'The woman isn't very skilled, is she?'
"I don't recommend trying to follow me" Shikamaru informed the woman with disinterest, disappearing without bothering to use a trail of leaves.
'I will admit' Shikamaru mused, ignoring the Anbu as she failed to keep up 'the benefits of this thing are rather pronounced' he smirked, replaying his bout with Temari as the Anbu disappeared from sight.
'Escapism will only lead to your ruin' the voice advised.
Shikamaru's scowl returned.
Silently, he entered the forest owned by his clan, not stopping until he reached a clearing. Immediately, he collapsed onto his back, arms propped beneath his head and legs sprawled comfortably. His eyes drifted up towards the sky, where the sky was dotted with various clouds of all shapes and sizes.
Shikamaru was greeted with silence. Not a single thought managed to surface.
He slept for the remainder of the day.
Upon exiting Shikamaru's apartment building, Naruto came across Chouji and Ino waiting for him outside.
"So, how was he?" Chouji prompted, motioning for him to join the two on a walk.
"He seemed, out of it" Naruto replied.
"You were only in there for a few minutes, too" Ino commented. "What happened?"
"After I got into the apartment and he called me from his room-"
"He didn't let you in?" Chouji asked.
"You broke in?" Ino sighed.
"After I got to his room" Naruto ignored the duo "I asked how he was, because he obviously looked like crap" Ino nodded her head in agreement. "But, right after he answered and I went to ask him something else, he sort of just blanked out on me" he shrugged. "After that, he just kicks me out, saying to come back tomorrow" he finished.
"Not much change, then" Chouji remarked.
"Well, at least he didn't have any mood swings, this time" Ino offered.
"Ah, he sounded annoyed when I walked in, but he's usually annoyed or asleep, so I left it alone" Naruto explained, amiably nodding to a few villagers.
"He hasn't slept for more than a few hours, since that event at the training field" Chouji sighed. "When Shika doesn't get sleep he tends to be a bit standoffish."
"He's never been one for pleasantries" Ino snorted. "When he's tired, he's just worse" she added.
"After he gets his rest and some food in him, he'll be back to normal" Chouji assured them. "It's a doctor Haruno guarantee, after all" he grinned.
"Yeah" Ino sighed "back to the lazy Nara that enjoys shirking missions, annoying women-"
"Offering the advice we don't want, cloud watching-" Chouji joined in.
"Substitute teaching at the academy occasionally-" Hinata offered, joining the group.
"Forgetting to invite his friends to join in on activities-" Shino added alongside her.
"Did someone already take being a smartass?" Kiba asked.
"I was going to say that one!" Naruto groaned.
"What brings you here?" Chouji asked, after everyone had made their greetings.
"Got a mission in a few, but we've already prepared" Kiba shrugged.
"We thought it would be nice to say hello to you while we wait" Hinata explained.
"And since Shikamaru was being discussed, why not get some news on his current condition?" Shino completed the reasoning.
"And apparently, he hasn't improved by much" Kiba announced.
"But all he needs is rest and he should recover" Hinata smiled.
The group waited for Shino to add something as well.
"What?" he asked.
"You aren't going to do that thing you three have been doing?" Naruto asked vaguely.
"Thing?" Hinata asked, tilting her head to the side in confusion.
"You know" Chouji trailed off.
"Where you all speak right after the other, completing the group's thoughts?" Ino asked.
"Like that?" Shino asked.
They all walked in silence, choosing to stop and relax at a nearby training field.
"So" Naruto probed for a topic "what mission are you guys going on?" he asked.
"Some diplomat has to get to Iwa" Kiba sighed.
"What's so bad about that?" Chouji asked.
"It is expected that there will be a few shinobi that would prefer he didn't make it into the land of earth at all" Shino clarified.
"Ooh! A B-Rank!" Naruto exclaimed. "Why do you guys get missions, when I don't get to do jack squat!" he whined.
"That could be a reason" Chouji offered.
"Sasuke's off being a damn jounin, getting to do cool solo-missions, Sakura likes her cushy medic job and gets training with the hag every so often" he grumbled to himself. "I don't want to go back to Myouboku!" he groaned.
"There there, Naruto" Hinata pat him on the back in a fit of spontaneous bravery. "I'm sure you'll get a mission sooner or later" she soothed, relishing the closeness.
"I hope so, Hinata" Naruto sniffled, smiling to the girl. "Oh!" he exclaimed, turning to Chouji and Ino, while Hinata fought down a blush. "Did you know my dad intends to send Shikamaru on a mission in a few days?" he told them.
"What!" Ino exclaimed. "Shikamaru could barely walk, yesterday, what makes him think Shika will be mission ready in such a short time?" she seethed.
"It wasn't that bad, Ino" Chouji sighed. "He was exhausted, so he figured why decline being carried home" he explained. "Of course, there were some other odd things that happened, but his only real problem right now is that he needs a day or two to rest."
"I know that, Cho" Ino growled. "But can you tell me that you aren't worried about Shika going on a mission so soon?" she asked.
"Of course I'm worried" Chouji answered calmly "I would prefer at least being able to go with him on the mission, at least, but-"
"Oh, you are, don't worry" Naruto assured him.
"Wha?" Ino asked.
"Why do you have so much information?" Shino inquired.
"Don't worry about that" Naruto waved him off. "You just have to know that your team and the group that Temari came with are going to Suna, with someone else from Suna to help escort the people they caught" he explained.
"That's good to know" Chouji nodded approvingly.
"I guess that's fine" Ino allowed.
"With the Ino-Shika-Cho trio together, there shouldn't be anything to worry about" Shino acknowledged.
"You got that right" Chouji grinned.
"Of course, against our Kiba-Hina-Shino, you guys stand no chance" Kiba added.
"In your dreams, maybe!" Ino retorted.
"Why is my name last?" Shino asked.
"Ah, well you see-" Kiba floundered for an answer.
"Huh, I made better time than I expected to" Kankurou whistled, approaching Konoha's large gates. "I wonder what kind of trouble Temari managed to get herself into this time around" he sighed, nodding to the guard that allowed him through.
"Of course Gaara would send you of all people" Temari sighed, spotting her brother. "And what do you mean, 'this time' eh?" the woman queried.
"What, you aren't glad to see your dear brother?" the puppeteer asked, feigning hurt.
Wisely, he chose to ignore the last question.
"I'd rather you didn't go around chasing after every skirt you see, this time around" she warned him.
"I am but a messenger of love" he replied, not bothering to defend his image. "Anyway" he began, eying Temari "you don't seem all that beat up, to me, so what's the deal?" he asked. "Three prisoners shouldn't be that big of a deal."
"I think they're trying to stall, for whatever reason" Temari offered, leading Kankurou to where the remainder of the team was.
"What for?" Kankurou asked. "If they still haven't got the information they need, that's tough" he shrugged. "We'll send them a letter or something, it's only Akatsuki" he growled.
"Shikamaru signed the contract and the entire team was almost wiped out, fighting just one guy" Temari informed him.
"Shit" Kankurou muttered, scratching at the edge of his face paint. "Maybe" he sighed "maybe, you should start at the beginning" he suggested.
"I planned to" Temari answered, Souta and Kyo coming into sight, sparring against each other at a training ground.
"Great news" Ibiki Morino announced to a group of three women in individual cells, two of which wore chains connecting their feet and hands.
The third, whose body had a collection of characters covering nearly a third of her body, was shackled to the wall of her cell.
"Ah, what happened to all of that enthusiasm?" he asked, after none of the women replied. "Oh well" he shrugged. "Just wanted all of you to know that Suna decided it was fine for us to keep you here indefinitely" he remarked.
"Policy dictates that all Suna captures are to be immediately transfe- !" the Kunoichi that spoke grew silent when Ibiki turned to look at her.
"Don't worry" the interrogator smiled, unsettling the three. "The only one of you with any semblance of value is your dear elder sister" he turned to the woman chained to the wall. "The rest of you, of course, are worth more dead" he replied off-handedly.
At this, the woman raised her head, eyes wild.
"You will leave them be!" she snarled, rattling at her bonds ineffectually.
"Ah, no longer silent, are we?" Ibiki raised an eyebrow.
"We've already told you all that you wanted to know!" one of the other Kunoichi replied. "What more do you need?"
"Have you really?" Ibiki replied. "You have yet to tell me why you would steal such an important scroll for this Akatsuki member, Katsu, I believe, and expect him to not attempt killing you on a whim" he informed them.
"He was my sensei!" the marked kunoichi replied.
"What's that supposed to change?" Ibiki asked. "Why side with a man that should've not only been dead but is also part of an organization very much intent to destroy all of your livelihoods, rather than your Kazekage and village?" he demanded.
"We-!"
"Careful" Ibiki interrupted. "I'll give you time to think over your answers, for when I return" he abruptly walked away, leaving as suddenly as he had arrived.
"They have nothing else to share?" Minato asked.
"Anything of importance, we already know the answer to" Ibiki nodded.
"I see" Minato nodded, prompting to take his leave.
"That gives Shikamaru a day, at most, to prepare" Minato sighed, clearing his throat.
"Yes, Hokage-sama" an Anbu replied, appearing in front of him.
"Give this to the first one you can find, though I doubt you'll be able to locate the Nara" he ordered, handing off a scroll to the Anbu.
With a bow, the Anbu accepted the scroll and vanished.
"Here's to hoping all goes well with their mission" Chouji remarked, walking with Ino to their usual training grounds.
"If it's only a B-rank, they should be fine if they don't goof around during the mission" Ino nodded. "Besides, I'm still wondering if what Naruto said was really true or not" she sighed.
"We'll see soon enough" Chouji assured her. "Besides, wouldn't it be for the best, if the shinobi from Suna took as long as possible to get here?" he suggested.
"You have a point" Ino replied. "But, I feel you've just jinxed his chances, by saying that" she sighed, indicating the Anbu heading their way.
"You may be right" Chouji conceded as the Anbu landed before them, handing off a scroll and then leaping away.
"Well, I guess Naruto wasn't spouting nonsense" Ino spoke after going over the mission contents.
"I guess Shika couldn't get those two weeks of rest he wanted, after all" Chouji groaned.
"Time to go break the news, I suppose" Ino suggested, detouring towards the Nara's apartment.
"Hey now" Chouji called, putting a hand on her shoulder. "We'll let him know the details tomorrow" he decided. "It's for the best that he gets as much time to relax today as he can, alright?"
"Fine, fine" Ino allowed. "But if we put things off, knowing full well that Shika is going to put things off until the last minute, too" she trailed off.
"It'll be fine" Chouji assured her. "We'll let him know the details at some point, tomorrow" he promised.
"I'm holding you accountable for this, Cho" Ino informed him, stalking back towards the training grounds.
"You owe me, Shika" Chouji sighed, following his teammate.
A.N. - And that's that. As always, please don't hesitate to leave a review to let me know how you felt about this chapter! Or where the fic may be going, in general.
Thank you for reading!