So sorry for disappearing for so long! I've actually had this chapter written for a long while, I'd just hoped to add more to it! I'm still very much invested in this story and have a lot planned for Komatsu and the rest of the Naruto cast!
guest Thank you so much for your feedback! I'll try my best to not include that anymore. Are titles and Japanese terms for things in the show okay? E.g. Tokubetsu jounin? Although I will keep dattebayo since there is no accurate English translation of it. But thank you for bringing it to my attention and I hope you keep reading!
please read and review!
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Naruto sniffled after Kakashi, murmuring about how cool their sensei was. Sasuke 'hned' lightly and stood up to walk away, nodding in his squad's direction. His skills had been recognised by a jōnin, so it was a good day. However, he was still stuck with the worst scoring genin of their class, so this was definitely going to come back to bite him.
"Bye, Sasuke-kun," she waved weakly, surprised when he returned the favour with a mock salute. Whether that was in jest or actually mocking her, who knew.
"Tomorrow you're going to teach me how to climb trees," he said solemnly as he walked away.
"Eugh, can't believe I have to be on a team with him," Naruto stuck his tongue out at the retreating figure. "I can't believe Sakura-chan was moved to another squad. That's so unfair! Wouldn't it be great if it was the three of us, Komatsu-chan?" She nodded even if the thought made her stomach flip. "I'm gonna go get Ichiraku! Wanna come with me?"
"Ano...S-Sorry, but I need to go home. My grandmother wants to see me and is um, not very tolerant of tardy people." It was half true, at least.
Her grandmother hated lateness.
"Ah. Okay then." The corners of his mouth dropped a little. "I bet she'd hate Kakashi-sensei then! Seeya, Komatsu-chan," he saluted and ran off in the opposite direction Sasuke had gone.
Komatsu sat for a while longer, tidying up the mess the boys made. She didn't bother with her own—her stomach felt flipped around enough as it was. Maybe she really would be sick. She heaved off the stone and stepped through the grass and onto the path towards the village centre. Dinner still had to be made after all. The day was still young, she noted, thankful for the hood shielding her eyes.
It was at a rare visit to the meat market did she meet Nara Yoshino, a good friend of her grandmother's. The woman bumped into her from the side, knocking out the painstakingly packed bags she couldn't see over.
"Oh, Komatsu-chan, I didn't see you there." Yoshino giggled, bending down and picking up several cans of fruit and vegetables. "I hope you don't have this every night," she frowned.
"Ah, um, good afternoon Nara-san." Komatsu blushed, sinking into her already smothering clothing. "Thank you very much." She would have bowed, but then they would have fallen all over again.
"You didn't answer my question." Yoshino eyed her. Shikaku may have been the clan's head, but Yoshino was its backbone-in more ways than one. When all she did was give an indifferent (but very polite) shrug, the woman sighed. "Your grandmother is such a proud and strong woman, she wouldn't let you ask for help anyway, would she?" Komatsu nodded rapidly; Yoshino was smarter than Shikaku, in her own way. The two stood in silence amidst the bustling market for a moment, and Komatsu rubbed her eye, accidentally scratching across a healing wound. "You're bleeding," she said carefully, pointing to her jawline.
"'M fine, Nara-san."
"Don't give me that." Komatsu flinched. A parental instinct won out over her suspicion and she leant over her, frowning all the more at her forehead. "Is your grandmother home?" She shook her head. "Then you're coming over for afternoon tea with us. Shika should be home now -probably lazing about as usual- so don't worry about being stuck with this old woman."
"Y-You're not old, Nara-san," was all she said meekly in return. Luckily, the woman laughed and Komatsu felt her cheeks grow a little cooler.
Yoshino didn't display many of the casual affectionate habits she held with the other children she knew to Komatsu. Maybe it was because of her hood she didn't ruffle her hair. But in truth, she was glad. She hated rejecting physical contact to those who meant well, but it just made her eyes itch and her throat close and stoptoocloseplease.
She shook her head. Her chakra was already responding violently, rushing towards her toes and fingertips. Biting her lip, she forced air through her nostrils, puffing her cheeks out in an effort to regulate her breathing. Her chakra was delicate, she was told. Fragile, hypersensitive, easily swayed and rather prone to bleeding through her limbs. Granny said it was a real spoilt brat's chakra. Iruka said she wasn't a brat though; he said she was the opposite.
Whatever that was.
She contemplated quietly excusing herself and escaping Yoshino's presence but quickly dismissed it. Aside from the fact it would never work, she didn't want to lose the woman's good favour. She did like visiting the Nara compound and playing shõgi with Shikamaru, even if it was a little depressing how horribly she lost each time. He never even tried either. So, like always she resigned herself to nodding along and listening to her companion babble and barter with sticky handed merchants.
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"Maa, they think they can outwit me because I'm a woman?" Yoshino complained to herself more than Komatsu. "I'll give them a piece of my mind one of these days." Komatsu flinched; that wasn't her giving them a piece of her mind? "But I think that's all," Yoshino announced, glancing at her list. "Now then, I'll take some of that." Komatsu sighed lightly as her burden was lessened.
The Nara compound didn't have the sheer size like the Hyūga estate, but it felt much more homely. Even in the head's house servants weren't to be found, much less Branch Family members. Although, Yoshino could use a hand occasionally, she thought as the woman struggled to open the doors with the sheer load she was carrying. Komatsu would have offered to help, but like her granny, Yoshino wore her pride in every fibre of her apron. That's why they got along so well, she supposed. Inside, family photos lay in rows across tables and benches, a subtle display of their wealth. Komatsu didn't have any photos of herself, aside her first hunting trip and her identification. The kitchen was spacious and allowed the two of them and their bags in with space to spare. She set down Yoshino's groceries on the counter and unceremoniously dumped her own on the floor.
"Hood off," Yoshino ordered from behind her. "You shouldn't hide your face. A woman needs to be confident to succeed in a man's world," she added a little more gently.
Komatsu complied but looped her fingers around her bangs, twirling furiously. Yoshino tsked but said no more. She was now a host, after all. Shikaku drawled a greeting, not even blinking at Komatsu's appearance in his kitchen.
"Troublesome day?" His wife asked absentmindedly, chopping strawberries.
"Yare, yare," he yawned and scratched his stomach. It said everything. "G'd arvo, Komatsu-san," he gave a small wave, which she returned shyly. Shikaku acted like more a boy than a man, and even then a childish man. It made him likeable to Komatsu, if infuriating to Yoshino. "I heard you got Hatake as your sensei." Yoshino stopped mid-chop, trying to covertly glance down at the girl. "So..." He thrust his hands into his pockets, eyebrows raised. "How'd it go?"
"U-Uh..." She rolled on the balls of her feet. "We-We, um, it was..."
"What a drag. What're you doing home so early, old man?" Shikamaru was next, yawning and scratching his stomach.
"Your mother told me she wanted me home for the afternoon, so here I am." A grin grew across his features. "What? Don't wanna see your own father now you're a big tough genin?" Shikamaru grimaced up at him as his ponytail was thoroughly tousled. "Anyway," he continued sharply in face of Yoshino's pointed looks. "Make nice, we have a guest."
"Yo. Chõji and Ino-san are out back."
"Shikamaru, where are your manners?" Yoshino admonished him.
"You're the one letting her bleed all over the tiles," he drawled in reply, causing her to gasp. "Don't pull my ear woman!" Shikaku chuckled at the display for a moment but sauntered over to Komatsu and her bloody chin.
"Mm, come on then. I'll get you patched up." He jerked his head towards the door. "Yoshino won't let me have dinner otherwise." Shikamaru clicked his lips together, striking down an invisible whip. His father just shrugged, unfazed. Komatsu trotted to the door -at Yoshino's consent- and obediently followed the head Nara down the hall and into the courtyard. Although she did indeed receive ointment and bandages, Shikaku's eyes were calculating when he sat her down. "How are you doing?" He asked nonchalantly.
"W-What do you mean, Nara-sama?" A few more drips and the dam would break. She clamped her lips together.
"Heh, I guess that's up to you to decide." He dipped his fingers in the salve and moved to apply when she flinched. "Eh, do it yourself," he shrugged.
Her shoulders sagged and she hurriedly rubbed the strange smelling cream on her jaw. It smudged into her scarf's folds, but neither commented. "I'm um...okay." She eventually decided on. Shikaku hummed lowly in acknowledgement, drumming his finger on the step and handing her the bandage. "Thank you, Nara-sama... U-Um, may I be excused? I'd like to ask Shikamaru-kun about his test, if that's alright."
"He didn't have a test." Komatsu's jaw hung open. "Eh, don't keep it against Hatake, he's an ass by nature." She frowned at the foul language. "Yare, yare you're as bad as Yoshino. Go on then, don't let this old man keep you any longer." Komatsu scampered away, swatting away her own hands reaching to the bandage.
Squad Ten sat in the living room, strewn about on the floor and chairs. Chōji was the first to notice her entrance and waved cheerfully. "Konnichiwa Komatsu-san! Shikamaru was just saying you came over." He gestured to the seat next to him. "C'mon, have a chip."
"Ugh, don't take it. It's got more calories in one than I have in a day." Ino rolled her eyes, standing from her position lying on the mat. "Konnichiwa," she added as an afterthought. "Shikamaru-kun didn't tell me you were coming over," she stated, lips pursed.
"That's because I didn't know," the boy answered dully, yawning. "So did Ma really just whisk you away? Isn't that kidnapping or something?" Even if it was, he was sure his mother could get away with it.
Komatsu twirled her hair into a knot, shrugging. "Nara-san wanted me to come over for afternoon tea..." She mumbled. "I can leave if I'm, uh, intruding," she added hastily. Shikamaru shook his head, sighing how troublesome it would be to deal with his mother later. With a grateful nod, she took her seat next to Chōji, arms folded in her lap rigidly.
"How did your squad go today, Komatsu-san?" He piped up, chewing loudly.
"More importantly, how did Sasuke-kun do?" Ino leant forward, elbows on the coffee table. "Ah, he's so amazing. You're so lucky to be on a squad with him...although it must be horrible having Naruto and Billboard Brow," she stuck out her tongue in disgust.
Komatsu was unsure how to respond; Ino and herself had never been close, so to speak. She wasn't going to reject any offers though. "Um, well..." The three peered at her expectantly. "We had to do a test," she began, and as expected, all three of their expressions morphed into disgust. "Kakashi-sensei said we were pr-probably going to fail, and be sent back to the academy." The disgust was replaced with shock.
"They can do that?" Ino's face paled. If they had been given another sensei, then maybe...
"Well, I guess Kakashi-sensei, he um, is a little tough? He said we're the first group to ever pass." She felt her chest puff out a little in pride in spite of herself.
"Yea, yeah, good on you-but what about Sasuke-kun?"
"He was wonderful, Ino-san," she eventually caved, drooping. "He pushed Kakashi-sensei back, so Naruto-kun could grab him. We couldn't have done it without him."
Shikamaru snorted. "How'd the knucklehead and Sakura-san do?" He cracked his neck, stretching. "Bet they were like headless chickens." He muttered.
"Actually, after his um...false start, Naruto-kun did really well," she said earnestly. "He's a lot better than everyone gives him credit for." Her cheeks flushed, coming off harder than she intended. "And Sakura-san..? ..oh." A spiteful kernel grew inside her, but she pushed it back, swallowing her pride. "I think you should ask Sakura-san yourself when you see her. Gently," she added hastily. The two boys appeared perplexed, but Ino appeared thoughtful.
"Who'd have thought..." She murmured, twiddling her thumbs. Komatsu wouldn't meet her gaze and Shikamaru quickly grew out of the silence. He yawned, casting a longing glance towards the shogi board.
"Two v two?" He suggested, a playful smile playing on his lips.
For a lazy bastard, he sure did love winning.
"Sure, what're the teams?" Chõji agreed, bobbing his head goodnaturedly. "Do ya wanna go with me, Komatsu-san? Ino-san always wants to be with Shikamaru anyway." The blonde stuck out her tongue in reply. "Oh yeah, real mature."
Komatsu giggled behind her hand, sidling up onto her side of the board. She grinned across at Shikamaru, who was already deep in concentration. He would win-they all knew it. The challenge was making him work for it. "Uh, who's um, like, starting?" Shikamaru shrugged, moving forward a pawn.
"Shrugging like he hasn't always seen twenty moves ahead-what a jerk," Chõji grumbled playfully, munching on crumbs. "What'dya think Komatsu-san? Defence or offence?"
She cocked her head to one side, scrunching her face. "Does it really even matter?" She eventually admitted with a prolonged sigh.
"...no, it really doesn't," Chōji agreed with another shrug, grinning wryly. "Maybe having no strategy at all is the perfect strategy against our strategical strategist." Komatsu nodded, moving forward their own pawn.
"Eugh get on with it. You're making my head hurt," Ino complained, clutching her forehead. "I know! I'll make the next move! That's alright, right Shikamaru?"
Chōji subtly grabbed a pencil and paper, claiming he was working out tactics and hastily scrawled a message. Komatsu's shoulders shook in her forceful attempt at looking stoic.
"Maybe we have a chance at winning after all?"
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"How did we lose that? Ino-san had practically killed off half of her men!" Chōji flopped backwards onto the carpet, groaning.
"What can I say? We're talented," Ino flipped her hair, sparkling with triumph.
"And Shikamaru made like three moves!" He continued without pause.
"Three moves too many," Shikamaru remarked dryly. "You did alright; I was only gonna make one and then you pulled out that Climbing Silver." It was a small consolation, they supposed.
"You're just all smug 'cause Asuma-sensei couldn't beat you." Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
Komatsu squeezed the ends of the table, smiling down at the board. "I-Is Asuma-sensei nice?" She asked, fidgeting in place.
"Nice? He gave us barbecue!" Chōji beamed, rocking in place. "And he didn't give us a test like your sensei. That sounds really awful."
"Such a drag," Shikamaru agreed. "What was the point of it again?"
"Teamwork," she mumbled. "I guess with us, it made sense to test that." Naruto and Sasuke would butt heads from now on certainly, but at least they could be trusted to put a mission first.
"No wonder they didn't test us-we have amazing teamwork, don't we Shikamaru-kun, Chõji-kun?" Ino folded her arms, chest puffed out. "After all, we are the second generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho."
"Sure, whatever Boss," Shikamaru yawned, knocking shoulders with her playfully. "But Naruto-kun and Uchiha? Yeesh, give me a break. That's a match made in hell." He raised an eyebrow at Komatsu. Funny, she thought, him leaving off Sakura. "Sure you're gonna be able to handle them, Komatsu-san?" Ino went to smack him but he batted her away. "Nah, really-they're both idiots so I dunno how you're gonna stand being the only sane person there." Ino's mouth gaped but Shikamaru covered it with his hand.
"Tha-That's-they're-" she protested a little too weakly. "It's um...just an adjustment? They just need to get used to each other, that's all." She put her hands up, straining a smile. "It-it will be fine though-it's always fine-always fine."
"Komatsu-chan, your grandmother is here!" Yoshino called out, waving a hand from the kitchen.
Komatsu's back stiffened and she gripped the table roughly, shoulders hunched. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, eyes thin and thoughtful. He stood, pulling Ino and Chõji up with him. "Her old lady is even more troublesome than my own. Gives me a hard time," he grumbled to them, scuffing his feet. "'Devote your talents to something else Shikamaru-chan-shogi is for the old and cripped." Blah blah..." The trio shared a giggle.
Komatsu scrambled up to face them, tentatively leading them to the two gossiping matriarchs in the kitchen and a dozing Shikaku on the bench top. At least, Komatsu thought he was before he opened one eye and winked at her. "G-Good afternoon Grandmother." She bowed. "I'm sorry I didn't come home on time."
"Oh don't worry dear, I already explained to your grandmother. All my fault," Yoshino laughed and her granny pretended to as well.
"Maybe next time leave me a note, or just wait dearie," Tadako advised, jaw tight.
"Yeah, 'cause that's more important than bandaging her," Shikamaru muttered under his breath. Tadako looked his way and he averted his gaze, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Oh my, is that you Chōji-chan? I feel like you've already grown again." She ruffled the Akimichi's hair, ignoring his attempts to slither away. "You know, sometimes I wonder if you and my Ko-chan aren't secretly related you look so alike." Komatsu's ears burned but she wouldn't lower herself this time. She didn't want to offend Chōji with what she knew her granny meant behind the sugar laden smile.
"We were just about to have afternoon tea, Tadako-san. Won't you join us?" Yoshino held up a sweet smelling plate of mochi, making Komatsu's mouth water. "I think we know Komatsu's preference," she teased, and the girl covered her mouth, rubbing her neck with her other hand.
"I couldn't possibly inconvenience you my dear Yoshino-san. I think I'd like to have a chat with Ko-chan about her day in the comfort of our own home, as I'm sure you'd like to ask your son." Her eyes glinted. "I hear you got the Fang's pup." Shikaku's second eye flickered open. "Oh, dear, I meant Hatake-kun," she knelt down to Komatsu's level, squeezing her shoulder tightly. "It's okay to be upset sweetheart. He's never passed anyone."
Komatsu blinked, shuddering from the contact. But then she looked from the three children beside her to Shikaku and spread her lips in a fragile line. "Well, G-Grandmother... I-I..."
"She and Sasuke-kun passed Honda-san! They were so amazing apparently-and then there's Naruto-kun and Billboard Brow," Ino's expression changed vicariously, from sparkling pupils to scrunched eyebrows. She bumped against the other girl's shoulders, flashing her a white smile so brilliant Komatsu almost didn't jump on contact. "Obviously no one's going to beat the new Ino-Shika-Cho formation but hey, a team with Sasuke-kun's the next best thing."
Tadako's smile froze in place, while Yoshino's grew evermore wider. "Ah! That's such brilliant news Komatsu-chan. You must have a very special team to live up to Hatake-san's expectations."
"If only you celebrated our son passing this much," Shikaku commented dryly, earning a contemptuous glare.
"I see." Her grandmother sobered for a moment. "Well, I'll have to hear all about it at home!" She clapped her hands together and put a finger to her lips.
Komatsu almost buried herself in Shikamaru's arms in that last goodbye.
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So there you have it! Shikamaru is amazing at shogi and my Yoshino bias is clearly showing. I really don't want to villainise any of the Naruto cast or bash them, so I'm trying to explore different aspects of them. I honestly love Ino and Sakura, they just don't come into their own very often and it's so frustrating to see.
but RnR! I hope to start updating regularly again and get stuck into the story! I have so much planned for this fic and I hope some of you stick around for the ride. 33