Authors Note: Okay, I know most people don't read these things, but PLEASE PEOPLE! Stop sending messages or reviewing with pairings! I have a poll up on my profile page, so use that please. I'd rather not get my hopes up for a review, just to find out that someone wants to tell me the pairing they want.
On a higher note, Chapter fourteen! YAY! This story, somehow, has managed to get 176 followers by this point and 161 favorites! This is my record for a story. I aim for 200 followers by Chapter 16, hehe. Anyways, Sorry for the long wait, I was done this chapter nearly a week ago but I caught the Flu and couldn't even sit up without it hurting, so I couldn't post. If my family members weren't so computer-illiterate, I would have had one of them post it for me. Unfortunately, I'm really the only one who knows how to do more than send emails, and even that confuses them! So here's the long-awated chapter. It's half plot, half random stuff that fills space and updates our favorite ninja on how things are going back home. Mostly because I had nothing else to write without skipping several days or weeks in the story.
Enjoy and remember to REVIEW! POLL FOR PAIRINGS CLOSES ON OCTOBER 31st 2013!
Update as of November 2nd 2013:Alright, The Poll is closed and we have our winners! The highest votes for Shikamaru's partner is Neji, so the main pairing will be Shikamaru(Harry)xNeji. For the OC's the partings are as follows: Hariko(OC)xGaara and Sakuno(OC)xLuna. Romance won't be a huge part of it, but there will be kissing on occasion, as well as possible lewd comments later on as they grow into teenagers. There will be mentions of dates, and once they're older (aka 15 or older), there may be illusions to the couples having had intercourse through them waking up in bed naked together or through mentioning it breifly. It isn't a main focus, so no need to worry. It can, if you don't like the pairings, be ignored.
The moment the duel begins, Malfoy goes against the rules of the duel and summons a snake.
Shikamaru just raises an eyebrow. Weren't they supposed to be secret allies? It seems the boy's in need of a reminder later. He'll set Sakuno and Hariko on the troublesome brat later.
Having become used to switching between Parseltongue and Japanese, it's not that hard to speak English instead of the snake language. Even when speaking English to them, magical snakes like those summoned from wands always know when someone can speak the snake tongue. They don't necessarily always know what the feeling means, but by this snake's hissing, it does.
"Come on, snake. I know the perfect person to give you to." Shikamaru scoops the six foot long python up into his arms before flicking his wand at Draco, who's wand is blasted away from him as he's sent falling onto his rear end.
"That ends the duel, and I'm keeping the snake as payment for you going against the set rules of the Duel." Shikamaru says. He hops off the platform. "Think Anko-sensei would like a new snake?"
"Of course, Shika" Sakuno snorts. "Snake's are her true love"
Hariko grimaces. "That's Ibiki-san. I believe you mean snakes are her 'Fetish'"
"Hariko…how do you know that word?" Neji asks slowly.
"Hm? Oh, I heard father mumbling about finding out that he has something called an 'S&M Fetish', so I went to look up what it meant in a dictionary. It didn't have anything on 'S&M' but it told me what Fetish means"
Neji looks like he's very creeped out. "He actually said he has one of those?"
"Yes. Do you know what 'S&M' means, Neji?" Hariko asks.
When it comes to anything to do with reproduction or, as Hariko put it, 'Fetishes', the Hyuuga heir is very clueless.
"Er, no?" Neji coughs. "Different subject, please"
"I'm going to find Anko-sensei" Shikamaru walks off.
"Wait for me, my youthful friend!" Lee bounds after the Chuunin.
Sakuno sighs. "Slow down guys!" he hurries after the other two.
"Why do I get the feeling that Shikamaru is about to have his face squished into Anko-sensei's breasts?" Tenten asks.
"Because he is" Hariko replies, turning to look at his cousin once more. "Tell me what 'S&M' means, Neji"
The Branch family member coughs. "I'm afraid I don't know. Now, we should follow Nara to make sure he doesn't get killed by your sensei's chest"
The three remaining ninja follow the three that are in search for Anko, whom they find before even leaving the Great Hall. The six ninja stop as the purple haired Jounin walks into the hall with Gai.
Anko's eyes zero in on the snake Shikamaru's holding.
"Aw! Who's a cute widdle baby snake?" Anko coos, taking the snake into her arms and cuddling it. "I'm going to cuddle you, and snuggle you, and call you Shou!"
"Isn't that one of this years most popular names to name your child back in the village?" Tenten asks Shikamaru, who nods.
"It is" The shadow user says. "It ranked first this year along with Kakeru"
"Why does our village even do polls like that?" Sakuno asks. "It just doesn't make sense. Most of the people who vote don't have kids!"
"That's life, Saku" Shikamaru sighs. "Troublesome as hell"
"Anyways, let's get out of here" Neji says. "Before Lockhart, the idiot, decides another of us should head up for a demonstration. We should have never even come to this stupid dueling club"
"I hate to interrupt." Gai speaks up. "But we have some important business to discuss" His face is oddly serious for once.
"What's up, Gai-sensei?" Tenten asks.
"I've been asked to inform you that Sasuke Uchiha has gone Rogue. He's defected from the village and has been named a missing-nin."
"The council agreed to that?" Shikamaru asks curiously.
"They did once they heard he nearly killed several clan heirs in his escape. They would rather sacrifice one clan than several others. The clan heads decided that if the Uchiha isn't declared a missing nin, they'll leave the village and start their own." Gai explains.
Shikamaru sighs, but nods in understanding as he shoves his hands in his pockets.
"Troublesome" the lazy Chuunin mumbles.
"What are you talking about, Shikamaru? How's it troublesome that the Council actually made the right choice for once?" Tenten asks.
Shikamaru shifts his weight to his left foot, looking up at the cloudy great hall ceiling as he starts speaking, "The Village Council likely thought that Uchiha would die soon, seeing as he's just our age and really nothing too special once you take a close look at him. He's just a Gennin with an attitude problem that has higher than normal skill levels, though they're not as amazing as his fangirls make them seem. The Council probably decided that since Uchiha's likely to get himself killed within the year out there on his own, that it would be safer to cater to the remaining village clans. With the last Uchiha gone from the village, that leaves the Hyuuga as the most powerful clan in the village. Other clans will be trying to get a step up while they can, too."
Team Gai stares slack-jawed at Shikamaru.
"What?" Shikamaru raises an eyebrow.
"When did you get so smart?" Tenten asks.
"How many times are we going to have to tell people Shika's a genius?" Sakuno asks.
Hariko shrugs. "As many times as it takes, I suppose"
Shikamaru looks to Anko. "I think I'll write to my dad to get him to make a few political moves. Shimmy on up there to sit with the Hyuuga, if possible. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't bother, but dad's smart enough to know that on the off chance that Uchiha does survive and make it to Orochimaru, it'll probably bring war to the Nation. Uchiha's deranged enough from what I've seen of him that he'd likely gather up some like-minded people once he thinks he's strong enough, and go after his brother. That in itself isn't too bad, it's what he may find out from his brother that bothers me"
"Find out from his brother?" Anko asks. "What've you heard, brat?"
"Dad and the Hokage like to play Shogi together, and the Hokage often comes over to do it. A few weeks after the Uchiha massacre, I overheard them talking about how the Council went behind the Hokage's back to order it, or something like that. I don't remember in great detail, but I do know that Itachi Uchiha was ordered by someone to kill his clan. If Itachi really was ordered, it was likely one of the Council members or Elders. That would prompt Uchiha into attacking the village, were he to find out. The kids got issues" Shikamaru says, speaking the information like he's giving a report.
"So what do we do?" Tenten asks.
"We do what others are doing, we wait. We wait, and have our families try to get as much influence as possible, be it through family members or friends. The Akimichi and the Yamanaka will stick by my clan, and if Hari has a few words with his father, I'm sure the Hyuuga will be on board too. The more influence we have on the Council, the better. With a majority vote, Council members can vote off other members. Our clans and families, if they work together, could get all the Civilians who have nothing to do with ninja life off the council. The Council is there to make decisions regarding ninja. What to orphanage matrons have to do with ninja, other than the rare child going from the orphanage to the academy? Why would fruit stall owners and merchants like the Haruno's have positions on a Ninja Council? The Hokage may not want to see it, being the peace-loving man he is, but there's corruption in our village. So far, it's taken out a whole clan other than two members, both of whom are now missing-nin. Who's to say one of the other clans isn't next? For all we know, they could be plotting to take over the village and get rid of all ninja. We need to act before whatever their plan is completely ruins Konoha" Shikamaru says.
"See, this is why he became a Chuunin" Anko says to Gai. "You wanted to know why he became a Chuunin and your Hyuuga didn't? There's the reason. The brat's a leader, no mater how lazy he is. He's meant to lead. He'll probably become a Jounin the first time he tries for the promotion. He's a lazy one, but he's got what it takes to go far. It just adds to the fact that he's as sharp as a kunai. Kid's got a brain and knows how to use it"
Shikamaru sighs. "I can hear you, you know"
Anko grins wildly. "I know!"
"Why do we put up with such a troublesome woman?" Shikamaru asks Sakuno and Hariko.
"Perhaps it's the free weapons?" Hariko suggests.
"Or the fact that we scare people when we mention she's our sensei?" Sakuno adds.
The three sigh.
"Aw, brats!" Anko pulls her students into a group hug, which squishes Shikamaru's face between her breasts.
When they're finally let go for air, Shikamaru's face has a slightly blue tint to it.
"Nearly suffocated you again?" Hariko asks, patting Shikamaru on the arm.
"Troublesome" Shika mumbles.
"Gai-sensei, who were the heirs that were nearly killed?" Neji asks.
"Hyuuga Hinata, Akimichi Chouji, Aburame Shino, Yamanaka Ino and Inuzuka Kiba. Several other Gennin were nearly killed, but they weren't clan heirs." Gai replies.
Hariko looks worried. "Is Hina-chan alright?" He asks.
"I already got a message from the Hokage, brat. Your sister will be fine. She's going to need to take it easy for the next month or so, but she should recover fully" Anko says.
Hariko sighs in relief. "That's good"
"Come on, Hari. Let's make a get well soon card for your twin!" Sakuno exclaims. "We can all sign it, and send her some magical candies or something to cheer her up! I think some Fizzing Whizbees will cheer her up! Who doesn't want to float around for a while?"
Hariko smiles softly. "That sounds like a good idea. I think Hina-chan would like that"
It makes Hariko feel all warm and fuzzy when his friends are kind like this. It reminds him that even if his Clan is made up of cold-hearted idiots that need a good smack to the back of the head, at least he has a surrogate family that loves him for who he is.
Shikamaru drapes an arm over Hariko's shoulders. "Let's go work in the library. Madam Pince will probably know where to find a book that has interesting spells to put on the card to make it sing or something"
The group head off to the Library, their sensei's following close behind.
Authors note part 2: So poor Hina-chan's in hospital and Hari's worried for his precious twin. Sasuke's a missing-nin and the Clans have finally gotten their heads out of their rear ends and started doing something about the idiotic civilians that are members of a ninja council. Even I think this is getting interesting! lol.
Reviews will be much appreciated, and Flames will be used to set fire to Lockhart's books, paintings and possibly his hair! Till next time, dear readers!