New Lives
Chapter 14
"Hurry up and finish her before she wakes up!"
Gin stopped and fairly threw Tayuya to the muddy ground, then reached into his pouch and pulled out a kunai. He moved the weapon toward her throat, and found bright yellow eyes looking up at him, enraged. An incredibly powerful claw grasped his wrist, and shattered it, "No one #! with Tayuya the Summoner of Otogakure!"
Gin fell back in pain, "Stop her!"
But it was too late, Tayuya had pulled her flute from it's pouch, and began to play.
Shikamaru sat up with a start at the sound of a flute, which was drifting into his room from the forest, along with the sound of screams...
A Doki crushed one man with it's massive club, smashing the body into the mud as another picked up the second and threw him against a nearby tree with an ugly crack... Gin fell to his knees, screaming as Tayuya smiled, a large, hideous Doki brought down a massive sword on the man's head. Tayuya dismissed the monstrous summons and set down her flute.
"#! idiots..."
She turned to see a horrified crowd of spectators, including a boxers-clad Shikamaru...
"Oh God, not again..." Tsunade had never imagined this, but now it seemed obvious...
...
"Both of them?"
Iwashi shuddered, "Yes ma'am, our spy reports that both Hoshigake Kisame and Uchiha Itachi have returned and are dwelling in Amegakure with that Konan woman..."
"And I've sent Shikamaru into that snake pit..."
...
"I believe you, Tayuya. Those guys have had it out for you for a while now."
Tayuya leaned onto Shikamaru's shoulder, "I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble."
The party was in a fair state of confusion, several had deserted rather than be around the Oto-Girl, and several more were calling for her arrest. The case was open and shut, the bruises on Tayuya's face and other factors backed up Tayuya's story, but not everyone believed her, or wanted to.
"You haven't caused any trouble, you were just defending yourself. I'm just sorry I wasn't there to help..." Shikamaru put an arm around her, while running a hand through her hair.
"Amegakure hasn't #! changed much since I was here last, still a filthy, #! mud-hole full of crooks and #! scum. I don't mind if the #! blame me, but if they try to #! with you..."
He pulled her close and kissed her softly.
"Is that all you got?" Tayuya pushed him down and gave him a long, deep kiss...
...
"Ya' know, those guys aren't so bad, not like the usual Konoha Trash." Sakon nodded in agreement with his brother's assessment of Sai and Suigetsu. Suigetsu is crazy, fun and sadistic, and Sai... Well, since he has no emotions, he's not gonna' immediately look down on us because we're freaks, or hold grudges because we might of hurt people he knows in the past. Plus he's a cool guy, he calls things as he sees 'em, no matter whose feelings he hurts.
Ukon laughed loudly, "What's so funny, little brother? You see a mirror or something?"
"I was just thinking of Sai's nicknames for Sasuke and Naruto," He chuckled,
"Traitor and Dickless!" They were laughing so hard they could barely get the key into the door of their apartment.
Ukon grinned evilly, "Ya' know, I bet both terms could apply to Sasuke!"
Sakon had to grab onto the wall for support. Once they'd pulled themselves together, they plopped into bed and Ukon started reading the book he'd borrowed from Suigetsu, Icha Icha Horror, Volume I. After a few minutes of silence Sakon looked over.
"So, who's that chick with the huge boobs and the chainsaw fighting the zombies?"
Ukon snickered, "It's Tsunade, he calls her something else, of course... Jiraiya-Sensei always bases his main characters on people he knows, usually with himself as the leading man..."
"He must have an ego like Sauce-Gay!"
...
Maki smiled at the sight of Amegakure's massive walls,
Finally!
He was bone tired and eager to get home. He looked back and felt a pang of sadness, Gin-Sensei wasn't ever coming home... His body had been disposed of along with the others in the woods. Someone would go back for their bones... He glanced over at Tayuya and Shikamaru, the lazy Shadow-Nin had a look of relief on his face, realizing that this long, troublesome trip was over. Tayuya gazed up warily, she was suspicious, with good reason, When word gets out of what she did, justified or not, things will get ugly... The gates opened and Maki rushed forward into his family's arms.
Tayuya looked around at the village, "How can anyone live in a place that gets rain every #! day!?"
"Tayuya!" Shikamaru nudged the girl gently, and she looked up to see Konan walking toward them. Kidoumaru is right, she is incredibly beautiful... Shikamaru tried not to openly gape at the woman as she stepped forward, "I am Konan, the Nidaime Mizukage of Amegakure. You must be the ambassador from Konohagakure. You're a lot younger than I expected." She smiled gently and turned to Tayuya, "Long time no see, Tayuya. I'd heard you were staying in Konoha, but why have you come here?"
"Someone has to protect this lazy #!." She pointed her thumb at Shikamaru.
"Still eloquent as always, I see. Tell me, boy, what's your name?"
"Nara Shikamaru, Mizukage-Sama." He bowed respectfully.
"Nara? Of the Nara clan? We have a distinguished visitor indeed. I've heard a great deal about you, Shikamaru." She looked around thoughtfully, "Some of our party appear to be missing..." She looked around as a guard approached.
"Konan-Sama, Maki has brought a message from the ambassador of Sunagakure in Konoha." He handed her the scroll Kankurou had given the younger puppeteer. "Thank you, Maki." He bowed respectfully, and she turned back, "Where is Gin?"
"He's dead, Konan-Sama." The man who'd taken command of the party after Gin's death stepped forward, "Along with Hiroshi and Akamatsu. They attempted to murder the Oto-Girl, and she killed them. A few others abandoned us after that..."
The crowd began to murmur in shock, and a few glared angrily at the young Kunoichi.
"Enough talk, let's get inside and find you accommodations." She turned and motioned Shikamaru and his party to follow."
...
As they entered the Mizukage's Palace, Shikamaru noted the elegant furnishings and beautiful architecture, It truly is a palace...
"Well, Nara Shikamaru. You've really grown since I last saw you."
Shikamaru stopped dead in his tracks, trying to keep calm, he turned slowly, praying that he was wrong.
He wasn't.
Uchiha Itachi stood alive and well not twenty feet behind him.
"Tell me, how is my dear little brother Sasuke doing?"
To Be Continued . . .