Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
A/N: Yay. The long awaited (not really) chapter ten! This chapter didn't work out the way I had wanted it to, but the events that need to happen, happen. Enjoy!
Chapter Ten: Reflection
Shikamaru was generally a very lazy person, but when he managed to rouse enough motivation to get up and moving, he was like any other adrenalin junkie. He loved the fast thrills and dangers a mission brought along, the spurt of energy after dodging a particularly fierce attack. The moments that brought the sensation of being invincible (though he always kept in mind he was not) were fantastic.
Sneaking into Konoha with his very life on the line was one of those moments.
There were guards posted along the perimeter of the village to keep away unwanted visitors. Now he was one of those people and the guard would have no trouble killing him. But Shikamaru was also aware of the positions of the guard, having served with them a time or two himself; he knew their rotations and when the best possible time to sneak into the village would be. Obviously they hadn't considered him much of a threat if they hadn't bothered to alter their first line of defense.
He made a mental note to thank Tsunade later.
He pressed himself against the wall as two ninja landed on the wall above him, right on time. They hovered there a moment, scanning the area, before moving on. Now was his chance. Shikamaru leapt up on top of the wall before dashing forward before the next team of two could come along and spot him. He did not stop until he had reached a dark alley, out of the way and, more importantly, out of sight.
Buildings loomed up on either side of him, obscured by the night. It was surreal that he could recall the exact way the streets twisted and turned from here, how he could have told anyone how to get to any point of the village. He could imagine so clearly in his mind the village at night, how the faces of past and present Hokages peered down upon them all.
Shikamaru shot from the alley and into the streets, making a beeline for the monument. He had no time to dilly-dally; once he paid his respects, it was back on the road if he was going to make it back to Suna in time. But as he passed one household, he could not help but stop to stare.
He avoided the light flooding the grass and made his way toward the open window, ducking low so he would not be seen by anyone that happened to glance outside. Within the building he could see Sakura, curled up in a chair, a stack of papers held in her hands. Her brows were furrowed in concentration, a frown twitching at her lips. Backing a way from the window he adorned his own sour expression. It hadn't occurred to him that his friends would still have lives; it was as if they had faded from existence and were no long part of the story. His story.
Footsteps met his ear and he ducked into the alley. A dog - a very large dog - came into view, sniffing along the ground. For a moment Shikamaru was afraid the dog would find him and, indeed, it turned it's yellow eyes upon him. Yet the dog was not afraid; his tail gave a little wag. Shikamaru held his breath.
"Yo, Akamaru!" The dog's ears perked and he swivelled his head to peer back down the street. "Come on!" The dog bounded away and left Shikamaru in a puddle of relief. But he had recognized that voice and most certainly remembered the dog.
He dashed down the street after them, keeping in the shadows and reverting to rooftops when necessary. At last they arrived at Kiba's house, a quiet building surrounded by garden that Shikamaru had always admired for its silence and tranquility. He crept beneath the windows, once more keeping out of the light, before he arrived at the window leading to Kiba's room. It was there that he watched as Kiba wrestled with his canine companion, at last collapsing on his bed to doze off into dreamland.
Shikamaru turned away from the window, ignoring the pain that nipped at his heart. He had come here for a reason and thus far had yet to carry it out. But he had added to his mission; with any luck he'd break free of Konoha for dawn. With a hardened expression Shikamaru vanished from the Kiba household.
One by one he found himself making pit-stops at the homes of those he had known before. His childhood friends were doing well; the Hokage and former teachers as well. Chouji and Ino were not in their homes, though Shikamaru had an inkling he knew where they might be. Naruto was as happy as ever, Neji, Tenten and Lee the same as they'd always been. Even Master Gai, Kakashi and Kurenai seemed to be the same carefree and dedicated ninja that he remembered.
When he came upon his parents abode his heart rose to his throat.
On the day of the exile, neither of them had been pleased. He could recall their angered expressions so vividly, their hurt so obvious it pained him far greater than any punishment ever could. Now he could see naught but sorrow reflected in their eyes; it hurt as much to turn away as it did to stare on as they sat in the troubled silence that was their home.
Now he traversed the dirt roads that led through Konoha. The monument was not far away and he was almost dreading his arrival. He had forgotten Asuma and guilt wracked his mind. He hadn't meant to forget, to be sure, but that was no excuse, especially for him.
Shikamaru crouched before the massive stone, eyes closed. It was silent and dark and he wouldn't have had it any other way. No one would disturb him at this hour in the night - or early morning - and there was no way anyone would ever know he was there. He had expected Chouji and Ino to be here, as they were not home, but even he made mistakes; he couldn't say that in this case he terribly minded.
"I'm sorry," Shikamaru whispered. "I forgot about you. But don't flatter yourself; I think I forgot everyone else, too. I didn't want to, or at least I don't think I did."
He paused. An ant marched across the cement.
"I made a new life in Suna. I had to suffer embarrassment and humiliation, but I did it. I'm one of them now. Gaara isn't such a bad leader; Kankurou and Temari are annoying but if you get used to them... They're tolerable. Especially Temari."
He sighed. The wind rustled the leaves of the trees behind him.
"But you knew all that, didn't you? What do I do, Asuma? Even if they clear my name, can I come back?"
Shikamaru froze; someone was watching him. His eyes opened and he slowly lifted his head, turning to see who the intruder was. Two figures stood some distance away; if he hadn't been looking for them, he'd have never distinguished them from the darkness. He rose to his feet and took a step back. If they caught him, they would kill him, and he was sure Temari would give him hell to pay even if he wasn't of the living to receive it.
Three seconds ticked off in his head before he turn and ran. As he faded into the night, not once did they attack.
And, like so many times before, Shikamaru did not look back.
The village was quiet, silenced beneath a blanket of darkness they called the night. Clouds marred the starry sky, hiding the moon away and taking with them its light. Chouji and Ino crept along the street at a steady pace. It was the night of the day it had all happened; when Asuma had left them for good. Now they were making their way to the monument to pay their respects. This would be the first visit without Shikamaru.
Ino didn't like it.
But then, there had been something wrong with this whole mess from the start. She and Sakura were thoroughly convinced that Shikamaru was innocent. There was still the question, however, as to why anyone would want to frame him in the first place. He was a genius, yes, but he was lazy and wouldn't work for anyone anyway. And if any of the villains they'd faced before were involved, why had they given up their campaign to kidnap Naruto?
"You know we'll prove he's innocent, Ino," Chouji said quietly. "We just need a little time."
"A little more time and he'll be dead out in the middle of nowhere," Ino countered, hugging herself. "We don't even know if he's alive now."
"This is Shikamaru we're talking about, remember? He's smart; he won't die." Chouji sounded as if he were trying to convince himself as much as Ino.
"I hope you're right, Chouji..."
They rounded the corner, the monument a black lump in the distance. The monument, however, seemed bigger than usual. Ino squinted and held out her hand to stop Chouji.
"Chouji, there's someone there."
He too squinted ahead, falling reflexively into a defensive position. Neither of them could identify the figure up ahead - it was unlikely, but still entirely possible, that it was an enemy ninja. If that was a case, it was better to be prepared for an attack. But either the ninja sensed them coming or chose that moment to leave, for when Chouji took a step closer, the stranger sprang into the trees and disappeared from sight.
"That we weird," Chouji said as they approached the deserted monument. "Why would a ninja from another village visit the monument here?"
"Chouji," Ino breathed, tugging on his sleeve and pointing at the base of the monument. A single white flower lay there, an offering to one of the dead. It was tradition among the three that they each lay one white flower on the monument to pay their respects to Asuma; Chouji and Ino each held their own limp flower in their hands.
"Chouji, I think that was Shikamaru!"
