A/N- Warning, probably going to be more Ooc-ness in this chapter, mostly because the character's past has been changing, not really dramatically, but changed none-the-less. Also, the addition of non-canon jutsu's, actually, they're in the anime, but they don't belond to this particular person. I just borrowed it for reasons I don't feel like I need to explain, it's called creative freedom. . Forgive me.

Bad Neighbors

-o-

AS the blonde took off up to the skies, Shikamaru casually sat on the ground, mimicking Hidan's posture. He clasped his palms together, index fingers pointing upward, and blinked slowly while taking a deep breath and letting it go.

Deidara snickered from directly above and let slip a small bomb with a single wing-like appendage sticking out from it. The chunk of clay helicoptered down in the uneasy silence, and Hidan cleared his throat in warning, as if Shikamaru wasn't aware of it.

The Nara just smiled and muttered the invocation word for his jutsu, and immediatly the entirety of the shadows that had made a border around the clearing slipped away from where they were and came to circle around him. Hidan yelped, but before any attention could be given to him the shadows shot from the ground, becoming tangible black tentacles. One of them slapped the bomb away while two more reached up to the blonde on his clay bird with unrealistic speed. The discarded sculpture hit the ground and burst as another tentacle, this one still two-dimensional stretched out past it. A whole series of explosions echoed up through the clearings as the remaining shadows on the ground stretched out and writhed their way around, meanwhile the ones in the air continued to dart around trying to catch Deidara, who was just barely managing to keep himself and his mount free.

Shikamaru grinned at the blonde when their eyes met, happy just for wiping the smug look from the drag-queens face. Deidara scowled in return and growled out some profanity when one of the three-dimensional shadows clipped one of the wings of his fake bird.

While still in mid-aid he lept from the thing, and it went sailing down to the ground as he tossed another sculputre out. In the blink of an eye and a puff of smoke the second hunk of clay had swelled to the size of the previous bird, only this one was thinner and resembled something closer to a dragon, being much more aero-dynamic, Shikamaru assumed. Deidara made some weird noise that was somewhere between a sneeze and what might have been an actual word, and the giant bird detonated, Causing Itachi to take an unrealistically large leap to the side and out of harms way. Hidan remained in his position, his face twisted in an expression that could only be expressed as being too pissed to think.

He ignored this action though, and slowly stood from the ground, his hands still clasped but for index fingers. He couldn't help the slight smile as he mumbled another phrase and let his hands fall to his sides. He reached up, over, and behind his shoulder, knowing full well that admist the chaos above, Deidara was still keeping an eye trained carefully on him. The blonde also somehow managed to toss out another bomb that was easily slapped away by a black tentacle, and it only made the corner of Shikamaru mouth twitch upward further. He pulled his hand back, and stifled the sneer he so badley wanted to make at Deidara's boggled expression. He didn't have anything in his hand, but his hand was being held carefully as if he did. He then turned and started running backward, toward the clearing he'd come in, his shadows disarming all the hidden bombs as he ran, making an incredibley effecting smoke screen. Deidara followed after him, clinging to his dragon-mount as it twisted and jerked to evade the still attacking tentacles.

"You think you can just run away from this? It's not going to be that easy Yeah?!" He shouted into the dust cloud, and grimaced at the yelp that escaped him as the sculpture was yanked out from under him with such force that he was sent spiraling downward. He desperatley tried reaching for his satchel, but the movement made it difficult to stop flailing his arms around in an attempt to regain control of himself as he plummeted.

"Kah-Katsu!" He heard himself squeal, and the dragon, wherever it had been, exploded with a force that knocked him to back into a controlled fall, and he winced from the debree that had com flinging at him along with it.

Finally, he made the movement to reach backward into his clay pouch, but before he could think, the three-dimensional shadow rocketed up to him and in less than a second had him bound tight enough to force the air from his lungs.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" He roared when he was allowed to take a breath. "I'm gonna fucking kill you where you stand! How the fucking hell did you attack me from behind! I watched you the entire fucking time, you didn't make a clone!"

The dust had settled now and Shikamaru stood confidently before him, he rolled his eyes at the blondes rantings and turned to Itachi, who was standing over an unconsious Hidan sprawled out among the destruction a few yards away, the albino appeared to be burnt rather badley as well. Itachi only stared down at him with the slightest crease of concern, and looked up to meet Shikamaru's gaze.

"Interesting. I must admit I didn't think you'd resort to using Hidan like that."

Shikamaru only shrugged as Deidara gawked at the older Uchiha, obviously understanding. His blue eyes flicked over to where Hidan's scythe lay discarded on the ground, the retractable cord having been burned away in the blast. But the crispy remains of a chunk of clay was unmistakable, having been stabbed clean through by all three of the blades of Hidan's weapon.

"You freaking fished me out of the air!? No way! hn!"

"It's difficult enough to control all that shadow energy, Hidan was the easiest way to conserve my chakra and still get the job done. Besides, I knew he'd be oblivious enough not to notice I had caught him in my jutsu until it was too late." Shikamaru said, continuing to ignore Deidara who was squirming in the grip of the tentacle.

"Let me the hell down yeah? This is downright degrading!" the blonde finally surrendered, and Shikamaru complied, the shift in the air evident as he relaxed and his chakra returned to his body, the shadows seemed to dissolve right then and there to reappear in their proper place. Deidara dusted himself off and crossed his arms, the only thing missing was sticking out his lower lip. Shikamaru stifled a laugh at this and returned his attention to Itachi, who had snuck up next to him.

"The way your mind works is interesting, I'll give you that. I'll admit I expected you to be dead by now, not standing here, victorious."

"Ah, quit rubbing it in yeah? I slipped up, I say it doesn't count, hn, we didn't know what he could do!"

"That was the point of the exersize Deidara." he said, glaring, and the blonde snapped his mouth shut. "Make yourself useful and go attend to Hidan. "

"He's going to be pissed to all hell when he wakes up." Shikamaru muttered, shoulder slouching from exhaustion and his prediction.

Itachi nodded at this, and considered something for a moment. "You will be contacted when a decision has been-" A flicker of annoyance crossed the Sharingan users face as the ring of a cell phone bleated into the air. Shikamaru's heart skipped a beat as he realized it was his, he'd brought his phone with him? When did that happen, it must have just been habit to shove it in his pocket.

He regarded the look on Itachi's face before he reached to answer it, it seemed the was only upset to be interrupted, and was now waiting patiently for Shikamaru to silence it so he could continue. But it didn't happen, as he pulled the phone out and saw Asuma's number, he held a finger up to Itachi, who's eyes narrowed.

His boss absoutly never called him unless it was important, it was always a secretary, always. In fact, he'd received maybe 2 phone calls in all the years he'd been working there that came directly from Asuma's cell.

"This is Nara." He said after flipping it open, wondering why Itachi was still waiting patiently. He couldn't quite decide if it was possibley curiosity to duty to make sure Shikamaru understood what would happen as far as his involvement in the Akatsuki from here on out.

"Shikamaru what the hell is going on? That damn button of yours has been going off for the last half hour, I've send 6 cars over there already! What have you gotten yourself into?"

"The backup button?" He said, his hand moving on it's own to come to a rest over the pocket opposite the one he'd pulled his phone from. There wasn't a lump there. The button wasn't there...

His eyes went wide and he nearly collapsed as the recollection suddenly hit him. Good God he'd left it on the kitchen counter. He remembered setting it down there, Neji had eye'd it before storming off without a word. He'd forgotten to grab it when Hidan showed up. Oh fuck, if this had gone wrong, he would be dead by now, he wouldn't have had any back up! How could he be so stupid!

"Shikamaru!"

Asuma's voice snapped him back for only a moemnt before he was struck with a second thought.

"Neji..." He almost whispered, absently meeting Itachi's eyes. The Uchiha tilted his head slightly and raised his brows, and the Nara couldn't tell if he was asking him to hurry up with his phone call, or wondring what happened.

"Oh God, Neji has the button, he's the one hitting it! Asuma!" He all but shouted the last into the phone, "Get to my house! I'll meet you there!" He slapped the device shut before the man on the other end had time to protest, and quickly searched through his missed calls. He hadn't had any from Neji. No, of course he hadn't, his phone didn't ring, it was on loud still.

If Neji had resorted to using that button, and hadn't had the chance to call Shikamaru, that meant something was horribley wrong. His stomache did a somersault as he imagined the house on fire after Neji accidentally left the burner on. He saw the car careening off into one of the steep ditches on the side of the road as Neji sped in his angry search for Shikamru, who had left him at home without a note or any way to know where he was for the second fucking time in a matter of days.

He whirled around to Deidara.

"Make a bird!" He shouted, his steps long and quick and he closed the distance between them. The blonde only scowled at him. "Why the hell would I do that, hm?"

"MAKE A FUCKING BIRD!" Shikamaru screamed, surprising himself as his hand shot out to grab Deidara around the throat. It was caught by the same almost feminine-looking hand that had stolen his knife from his so easily that day in the middle of the road. Itachi was before him somehow, blocking Deidara from harm and staring calmly at Shikamaru with sharingan blazing.

"Deidara. Please make us transportation. We don't have a lot of time." Itachi stated, and Deidara, though still scowling, took a few steps back and reached into his satchel.

"Shikamaru, help me get Hidan up onto it, he still has four or five minutes until he comes-to."

Shikamaru fought with his emotions, racing back and forth between panic for Neji, guilt for having 'killed' Hidan after using him as a tool just to pass some stupid test, and curiosity as to why Itachi was helping him.

"No time to lose, mister Nara." Itachi said, one brow raised in question as he bent down to wrap one of Hidans arms around his shoulder and motioned to Deidara to retreive the scythe.

Shikamaru shook his head, scattering his confusion for only a heartbeat before they came swarming back. None-the-less, he repeated the action and together they hauled the unconcious, bleeding Jashinist over to the giant clay pelican. Hidan was tossed in it's mouth, something that probably would have struck Shikamaru as hilarious if he wasn't so preoccupied with other concerns.

Itachi lept up onto the sculpture with ease and in turned Helped Shikamaru up, and before he knew it they were in the air. It would be only a few minutes before they were at his house, but that was still far too long..

-o-

"Any other bodies to throw at me?"

Neji's breaths came out ragged, and the blood dripping from his scalp was starting to sting in his eye. He was silent, ignoring his attackers questions in order to more properly use the time to try to think up means of escape. He'd given up the notion of kicking this guys ass to the moon and back, he was unrealistically strong.

Neji took a step back, wincing in fright as he bumped into a corner, and wincing again as his shoulder nudged it as well. It was hanging limply, the dark bruise showing through his sweat-soaked shirt where his shoulder should be was a dark reminder that physical attacks were useless.

"Good, now let's get this over with."

"H-how could you.." Neji was interrupted by a lightning infused blade narrowly missing his stomache as he jerked to the side to avoid it. He couldn't help the cry of pain he released at moving his tattered body so suddenly, and his attacker only smiled, dark eyes gleaming in amusement.

"Please, Shikamaru is on the police force now, we can help you out of whatever agreement you made, get you protection-AGH!" He cried out again as he dodged another swipe of the weapon, diving forward and rolling as a foot slammed down where his throat would have been, crashing through the floor with the chakra enhanced strength. Hot tears ran down his cheeks, partly from being scared for his life, partly from the pain, and a third part from exhaustion. Where the hell was Shikamaru? Where the hell was anyone? Even that idiot next door didn't come running at the sound of destruction and pain, as much as he hated to say he wished he was here...

"You can't offer what I need. Now quit blubbering and die with dignity." His attacker grunted the last part, swinging a chakra laden fist toward Neji, switching it to an open handed lightning-based attack at the last moment. It came within milimeters of Neji, who lost a large chunk of hair in exchange for keeping his head.

Once again Neji leaped backward to put distance between them, his palm rotation hadn't worked the last 3 times he'd tried it, gentle fist was too slow, which said a lot for the attackers speed, and the trigram routines weren't having much more effect either, Not in this small enclosed area at least.

The house was beyond trashed, they'd have to save up for a millenia to replace everything that had died-in-action, and this thought alone only worsened Neji's state. He was going to die, Shikamaru was probably dead somewhere else as well if he hadn't come by now, and there was no hope left.

His brow furrowed in sudden anger that gave him the strength to knock aside a fist and deliver a sharp jab to his attackers gut. They winced, and went in for another strike with the blade, electricity making it glow. Shikamaru, that bastard. How could he do this to him, this couldn't be part of his plan, and if it was it was even worse. He'd fucking left Neji in the house alone, most likely drawn off by the promise of drugs by that albino idiot, and he'd probably freaking been attacked and killed so that no one could come to Neji's rescue, except the scattered bodies of policemen draped across his livingroom. They hadn't even had time to call for more powerful backup before they were dead where they stood.

And now he was going to die, just like all those other jutsu users, innocent and young with promising futures, and it was all Shikamaru's fault. Why couldn't the asshole just let him in on his plans? He asked trust constantly but never gave it...

He blocked another grunt and let out a snarl as he saw an opportunity and jabbed the man 32 times in his chakra points. His attacker staggered backward and Neji rasped out a breath, blinking hard. His vision was blurring every now and then, he hadn't used his byakugan so much and so constantly in quite a long awhile. But to not use it meant certian death, he couldn't seem to keep from looking at the man's eyes, and without his visual prowess to combat his, he was done-for. He would probably slit his own throat with no more encouragement than a glance.

Damn that ..that...that pineapple headed fuck.

"Sasuke?!"

The third voice made Neji's focus shift to over his attackers shoulder, and the man used it to his advantage, rushing forward with the blade, going in for the kill. Neji watched it happen and tensed against the pain to dive out of the way, and just as he did another figure lept into the spot where he would have been, knocking the sword off course with a flick of a wrist that knocked it from the assasin's hand and sent it clacking to the wooden floors, just a normal old katana now.

"NEJI!" Shikamaru's voice shouted, the strain of concern more than obvious. Neji stayed where he was on the floor, emotions warring within him even as he felt familiar hands wrap around his torso and haul him up into an embrace. The brunette shreiked in pain and apologies came gushing out of his lovers mouth.

"What the fuck is your brother doing here red-eyes!" Neji heard Hidan shout, and rolled his eyes, everything going blurry. The calvary was here, apparently, even though it consisted of the two people Neji hated most in the world right now, with the exception of Itachi. He didn't hate him, but he sure as hell wasn't fond of the guy either.

He could be grateful though, he would push aside his pride for that at the least. He'd distracted Sasuke from his barrage of attacks, and Neji could let down the Byakugan and rest for a moment. After the pain behind his eyes left, he was his with wave after wave of excruciating pain to remind him that the rest of his body was badly battered as well, and he let the tears fall freely. Fuck dignity, this fucking hurt.

A shouting match erupted from the two brothers, along with more crashing, and Neji buried his face deeper into Shikamaru's chest, mumbling "I hate you for this." over and over. The Nara either didn't hear him or didn't know how to respond, most likely distracted by the fight going on between the Uchihas.

"Quit interfereing in my life!" Sasuke shouted, having regained his weapon, he was swinging again and again at the older Uchiha, but with controlled movement and a grace that was haunting to Shikamaru.

"Sasuke, stop this." Itachi said calmly, dodging each assault and only returning aggression when he had to. In his concentration in the fight, his face was wrought with unmasked inner pain at this terrible excuse for a reunion.

"I.. I can't beleive it.." Shikamaru muttered, absently stroking Neji's back, they had moved to the tattered couch to make the Hyuga slightly more comfortable. "It was Sasuke? He was the killer? How..how?"

"Jumping to conclusions doesn't do any good, even to you, pineapple head." Hidan said solemnly, seating himself on the other side of Neji. Shikamru's gaze met his and his heart wrenched. Hidan had known, he'd known Shikamru was playing him along the entire time to get him to confess. And he'd done nothing to stop it...

"What are you doing!? Go help him!" Shikamaru snapped, pushing back the guilt. He didn't have time to second-guess himself right now. How the hell was he supposed to know, everything had pointed to the Jashinist, even the man himself!

Hidan shook his head and looked over to the sparring brothers. "Nah, this is a family thing, he'd kick my ass if I interfered."

"You're not worried about him?"

"Tch, Red-eyes has always been stronger than that fucking runt, seriously. If there's anyone who can control him, it's Itachi."

Their calm conversation amidst the chaos was ended when the sound of wood and paneling violently breaking brought all their attention back up, a blur of Sasuke leaped out through the new hole in the wall. Shikamaru and Hidan's eyes met, "He just kicked him through the wall, still think he's stronger?"

"Eh.. maybe we should help.." Hidan said, running a hand through his hair.

"Maybe you should help, I'll join you when Asuma gets here, I'm not leaving Neji alone until I know he's in safe hands."

"Let blondie take your boytoy to the hospital."

"Hell no." Shikamaru said, then gave Hidan a shove with his free hand. "Go!"

"KATON!"

Hidan let out another swear and darted out the hole, scythe in hand, as the night was lit by the unmistakable glow of fire. And Shikamaru mentally kicked himself after realizing the only thing he could think clearly right now was how he hoped Asuma would get here so he could see Hidan fight. He tried to block out the noise as he stroked Neji's once silky hair, now reduced to a tangle of chopped up bits and peices and singed ends. He listened to Neji's half-concious, sobbing curses and took them, not letting himself feel the pain. He would make himself feel it later, he deserved it after all, but right now the best thing to do was stay focused.

Finally, finally after what was surely only a few moments but felt like years, Asuma burst through the door, and Shikamaru again kicked himself to noting that the first thing he noticed about the man was the lack of a cigarette.

"What the hell is going on out there Nara! What in God's name have you gotten yourself into now?!"

Shikamaru ignored his inquirires and pulled Neji up with him to his feet, the brunette cried out but didn't resist. "Get him to a hospital, I have to go help."

"You don't have to do shit, you let those two deal with each other." Asuma said, gingerly taking Neji's arm and crouching to put it over his shoulder.

"I have to!"

"None of this would have even happened if you had just asked for help instead of trying to do it all by yourself" Asuma said, but Shikamaru had already whirled around and was racing toward the hole in the wall, the clashing of metal and Hidan's shouting echoing in after he'd gone. Asuma sighed and turned slowly toward the door, sighing and informing Neji of how hard-headed his lover was.

-o-

Outside, the battle raged on, in the few moments Shikamaru hadn't witnessed, Itachi had activated his sharingan and the mangekyo symbol glowed in his eyes against the dark. Hidan had lost a portion of his shirt and was dancing in circles around the younger Uchiha who was somehow managing to hold off both Hidan and his older brother.

Shikamaru couldn't help but think that Hidan was doing no more than attempting to be a distraction, his sadistic grin wasn't imposed on his features, only a serious frown. But, then again, he was probably doing as little as he could, as well as trying not to hurt Itachi's last remaining family. Shikamaru was no moron, and he knew damn well that Hidan not only feared but respected the older Uchiha..

"Damn it all.." Shikamaru swore when he realized that clouds had come to settle over the sky, seemingly attracted by the rapidly changing temperatures due to the giant fireballs both Uchihas continued to spit out every so often. He couldn't use his jutsu, he might as well just be a distraction himself. He gasped when a chakra enhanced punch sent Hidan spiraling backward into the big oak tree in the albino's yard. The crunch as well as the vibration of the tree almost made the Nara gag. There was no way that hadn't killed him, which meant it was back to one on one between brothers, who were exchanging blows in a blurr of motion before leaping back and charging again.

Shikamaru clenched his fist as another fireball was sent bulldozing toward Itachi, who managed to leap out of the way and send a pack of 6 flaming shuriken which seemed to just materialize from nowhere hurdling back at Sasuke. He felt so useless, but if he intervened now he'd be nothing but a distration to Itachi. Sasuke doubtedly cared whether he was caught in the crossfire or not.

The lightning sword popped and fizzled loudly as it went cleanly through Itachi's gut, and Shikamaru's stomache rolled before Itachi disappeared in a flock of ravens, leaving a log in it's place. Itachi materialized behind Sasuke and managed to give him a sharp jab with his elbow before the younger was ducking and swinging out a leg that caught Itachi's ankle. Itachi caught himself mid-fall and kicked upward, hitting Sasuke under the chin and flipping him backward after a breif spurt of blood from his mouth. Hidan whooped at this and dove in, narrowly missing Sasuke throat in what Shikamaru honestly thought was an intentional miss, Though He was glad for it, seeing anyone be decapitated right now would probably make him lose what bit of sanity he had left.

Why the hell has no one seen this and reported it by now? Shikamaru though, there should be friking tanks and army men out here by now with the utter destruction the two were causing. He had a mind to pull out his phone, it wasn't as if he were doing anything other than standing there anyway, and noted the time.

2:05 a.m.

Shikamaru's head buzzed, that couldn't be right, Hidan had come to get him at midnight, the trek out there to the clearing had taken an hour and a half, the battle between himself and Deidara (speaking of which, where the FUCK was he?) had only lasted ten minutes, and the flight back here had taken maybe another ten, maybe fifteen at the most. That meant that this fight had only been going on for.. just over ten minutes. And it had escalated that quickly.

Sasuke grunted at the effort as he jabbed at his brother with lightning laced hands, still bleeding steadily from the mouth. Shikamaru almost slapped himself to rid the image of Sasuke Uchiha missing his two front teeth.

"Sasuke." Itachi somehow managed to shout in a calm demeanor. He was ignored, and after blocking a few more punches and evading another fireball, he slipped behind Sasuke and caught him in a choke hold.

"What is there to gain from this?"

"Let go of me you BASTARD!" Sasuke screeched, retracting his elbow with the distinct glow of chakra and ramming it back into the older's gut. Itachi was sent rolling, having been caught offguard, but was quickly on his feet again.

"Don't try to give me any of that wise older brother shit! You don't know ANYTHING ABOUT ME!" Sasuke cried, throwing a ball of crackling electricity rocketing toward his evaded easily, and Shikamaru shifted on his feet, this was quickly turning into some sort of family arguement. Had everyone forgotten all the other crap going on around here?

Itachi was silent as the continued attacking and evading, Shika remained silent standing away from it all. This as going to go on forever if he couldn't figure something out. But, he didn't have to. Hidan's snarl rang out, somehow managing to pass the struggles of the two Uchiha enough to make both men glance backward. "That fucking HURT!" Lethal intent was plastered all over his body as Hidan pulled himself from the tree. Shikamaru took a step back, that hadn't killed him? But he hadn't moved for a bit, maybe it just knocked him unconcious.

"I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU FOR THAT!" He roared, jetting forward with speed that made Shikamaru's jaw drop.

"Hidan!" Itachi shouted, blocking an assault from Sasuke and leaping back a few feet.

It made no difference though, the Jashinist was on the younger of the two in a heartbeat, leaping up as Sasuke charged at him and lunged as well, swinging his scythe wildly and so fast that as Sasuke used his sword to block it, the two almost seemed suspended in the air. The fact alone that Sasuke was managing to deflect every strike spoke volumes, and the Nara watched in awe. This, this could turn out to be bad, he'd wanted so badly to see Hidan's physical abilities, and now that he did it seemed a weight had settled in his stomache.

Could Shikamaru compete with that? He didn't know, he didn't know if he could react quick enough should Hidan ever come at him with that kind of fury and the intent to kill. Good god, He really had been messing around when he'd attacked him before, and yet he seemed impressed with Shikamaru?

He shook the thought from his head, watching Hidan fight, shivering at the ferocity. He needed to stop, he decided. He needed to stop forcing so much thought into situations where he should just be trusting his gut. Situations where he should be trusting his partner...

Finally they hit the ground and they both bounced around in an eloquent dance as they attacked and evaded over and over, Hidan's howls and snarls echoing through the air. Itachi jumped in at the last moment just as it seemed Sasuke was suffering exhaustion, he had been fighting longer than they had.

The older Uchiha poofed himself in front of Hidan just as the man managed to nick his opponents shoulder, the gleam of blood on the tip of his uppermost blade unrealistically bright. And to Shikamaru's confusion Itachi swung at Hidan, who dodged it easily with one of those giant backward leaps he so envied.

"Don't you dare!" Itachi growled, following him with a Kunai drawn. Hidan smiled a sick sadistic smile that Shikamaru hadn't seen on him yet, and his stomache lurched as Hidan licked the blood from the end of the blade, bursting out into a maniacle laugh.

"STOP!" Itachi roared, delivering a booted heel to the side of Hidan's face. The albino went skidding away, but stayed on his feet, and he tossed the scythe away. Shikamaru's eyes followed it as it fell into the barren soil that made up Hidan's backyard, and his eyes flicked back to meet Hidan's. He sucked in a gasp at the reckless abaondon in them, that was the look of someone who was about to take a life, and enjoy it. Jashinist indeed, Shikamaru thought. There's no way Hidan was anything less than a high priest, not with the things he now realized he was capable of...

But what the hell is he going to do without his scythe?

"Hidan, please.." Itachi pleaded, his calm voice creacking at just the last second. The spikey haired man's chest felt heavy at that small admittance of emotion, and he turned away, this was too much to take in, he couldn't do it. Neji hated him, Sasuke was running around killing people, Itachi was showing emotion, begging Hidan to stop whatever assuming terrible thing he was about to do, and Hidan... Hidan was more psycho than usual. This was all too much, and he closed his eyes, opening them as a slight movement caught his eye. Sasuke had been standing all the way over in the opposite yard, watching Hidan carefully. And now that Itachi seemed to have managed to calm the Jashinist down, he was fleeing.

Shikamaru watched him go, he couldn't go after him, as much as he wanted to, he would get creamed if he did, he realized with a depressing thought. He was out of his league, had been since this whole fiasco started. The Akatsuki could deal with him, Itachi specifically. Hidan wasn't the murderer, and it was no longer his concern, even if it was, he wanted nothing more to do with it, he'd taken enough risks. He let his eyes wander over the complete and utter destruction of his house and yard. There was nothing left, just the shell of what was once his home, and he swallowed hard. How had this gone so horribley wrong? He'd had everything under control, he'd known what he was doing...

They had tried to warn him, Neji, Asuma, even Itachi...

"You are nieve, and you should be embarassed for it."

"All the bits and peices that you're paying attention to, they're the opposite of what you should be concerning yourself with."

He listenened to the calm voices behind him, eyes closed. It just didn't make sense, it still didn't make sense. It was Sasuke? He'd never even fit into the equasion. Why? Why would he? After everything Hidan told him Itachi went through..

Itachi was quietly lecturing Hidan about Sasuke being no one's responsibility but his own, and if Hidan ever tried what he'd just done again he'd kill him. Hidan snapped out some vulgar rasponse, and Itachi growled right back.

Shikamaru forced himself not to listen, He didn't want to know what Hidan had almost done. And he realized with sudden clarity that he had been seriously underestimating the albino, sure, he'd been cautious because he didn't know what the man was capable of, but he'd honestly never expected this.

Had he gotten so used to these small town crimes that the possibility of something so violent actually happening had seemed unrealistic? So much so that he'd ruled it out completley...

That seemed possible, in fact, he knew that's what it was.

Oh well if his house was destroyed, all the more reason to get the hell away from here, he didn't ever want to see this place again, he didn't ever want to see this house again, and he didn't ever want to see Hidan or the Akatsuki again.

It was all just too damn troublesome.

-o-

A/N- WAIT! Before you start screaming, it's not the end, There's more, abouutt, two more chapters more I do beleive, maybe more, but probably not, and an epilogue as well. So don't come hunting me down yet.

Heh, That chapter.. was so. fucking. hard.

But it was sooo fun. Oh snap. I'm not going to re-read through this before I post, and I'm sure there's a ton of typos, but just do the best you can okay? I'm frikin mentally pooped right now, this story writing stuff is hard frikin work.

Also, I want to give a shoutout to Intrigued for the super long but really awesome review they left! I wish you weren't on a guest account so I could have messaged you back to thank you, it made me feel so damn good and...and... just thank you. I hope I don't dissapoint. :(

Anyways, so yea, here's that action packed chapter, thanks for reading, thanks for everyone following, and REVIEW!

EDIT; Went back through and fixed as many of the errors as I could catch, added some things too. I still don't know if I'm satisfied with this chapter, tell me what you think, were the fight scenes too short? Did I explain well enough? If everything peicing together? Are there loose ends that still don't make sense. TELL ME THESE THINGS PEOPLE I NEED TO KNOW!