[[A/N]] One or two questions answered in this chapter and a few more thrown out there. Enjoy!
"You're late, Shikamaru."
"My most sincere apologies," Shikamaru said, bowing his head. "I was told you wished to discuss the prisoner."
"That's right," Haishin said as Shikamaru sat down at the circular table in the centre of the room. "What are his abilities like? Is he a good fighter?"
"Not in the least," Shikamaru said. "Other than bearing Byakugan eyes, he is a rather inferior shinobi. His taijustsu skills leave more than a little to be desired and not once have I seen him using the famed Hyūga style of fighting."
"Could you not have brought a more reliable ninja?" One of the elders said.
"I had no choice in the matter unfortunately. I told the Hokage when I first arrived in Konoha that I was brought up in a border town of the land of Wind. Since the lands of Fire and Wind are allies, she saw no need to send anyone more skilled."
"Is there any chance he was acting more inferior than he is?" another elder asked.
"I can't see why someone would pretend to be so inept for three months around someone they supposedly trusted enough to allow to live in their village."
Haishin studied Shikamaru closely over tented fingers. "Then the transplant will go ahead as planned. It seems the Konoha brat was all talk."
Shikamaru looked over at Haishin. "Hyūga pride can often make them seem more superior. You have nothing to worry about, I assure you."
Haishin nodded. "Very well, you're dismissed while we discuss other matters. I'll expect to be debriefed later tonight."
Shikamaru stood and bowed to the elders before inclining his head to Haishin.
A formal debriefing was something Shikamaru had never experienced. When he had been sent on missions for Ame, his usual way of debriefing Haishin was to discuss the mission over a meal. Although Haishin had raised Shikamaru, he had never been a true father figure, not to Shikamaru and not to his own child.
Haishin had raised Shikamaru to take over his role as one of the elders of the council when he died, a duty that was usually passed to the eldest child. Haishin's son had been overlooked in favour of Shikamaru and Shikamaru had never been allowed to forget it.
If you are chased, you must run. You must live. You are the one to inherit the village. You must survive.
Just as he had never forgotten that he must be better than anyone else, Shikamaru had never forgotten the taunts that had followed him as he had grown up.
An orphan dog will never command our village. You are simply the replacement for me.
He had been a replacement for a defective shinobi. He had been raised knowing he was better than him. His own words echoed in his mind.
I've always been a better shinobi than you and you will never be recognised as a superior to me.
Did he really think that? Was that the truth in his mind?
Shikamaru sighed. Before his mission to Konoha he had known his place and his standing point in Ame. While he was in Konoha he had learned there was more to life than missions and being what was expected of him. Now he was back in Ame, his life had been thrown into chaos and he had no idea what was expected of him.
For hours, Shikamaru thought about all that had passed between him and Neji, him and Haishin and him and Nyūsen. He mentally followed the threads of different thoughts to their conclusions and worst case scenarios. The one that stood out most to him was the possibility that he was uncovered as a traitor before he got Neji out. If the plan he had for Haishin backfired on him that would be an inevitable outcome. If Nyūsen discovered him after that then there would be blood on his hands more literally than he would like. He had no choice; he would have to trust he could pull everything off.
As the grey skies of Ame darkened, Shikamaru made his way to the dining area of the house. Haishin was already sat at the table, conversing with Nyūsen.
"I will deal with it now leave," Haishin snapped to Nyūsen as he noticed Shikamaru entering the room. "Shikamaru, come, sit. Dinner will be here soon."
"Remember what I said," Nyūsen said as he stood up and left the table.
Shikamaru took Nyūsen's emptied seat. "I see he still doesn't take telling," Shikamaru said. "Let me guess, I'm a vicious betrayer, just waiting to topple you from your seat of power?"
"Sometimes I think you hear more than you let on, Shikamaru," Haishin said. "Yes, Nyūsen is worried you are on the side of Konoha."
"Well," Shikamaru said. "It may be easier if I just admit it now then, save Nyūsen the trouble of digging up all that evidence."
Haishin smiled. "I never tire of your wit, boy, but others may see that as a sign of guilt."
As the dinner progressed they spoke of Shikamaru's mission to Konoha. Shikamaru told Haishin how he had gained entry to Konoha, pulling the wool over the Hokage's eyes to make her believe he was just a young man looking for his family, his infiltration into the regular society of the village and the friendships he had made with various ninja. He left out the part where he had trained with his father and Neji's group and becoming a shinobi of the leaf.
"And they still suspected nothing?" Haishin asked.
"I can't say that much since they still sent an escort," Shikamaru replied.
"About him, what exactly was your relationship with him in Konoha?"
"He was simply a ninja I spoke to on occasion. I lived in his family's house for a while before being given a place of my own. He would often talk about escaping the Hyūga household."
"Come with me, Shikamaru. I wish for him to see you before I break his will and take his eyes."
Shikamaru stood and his heart sank as he followed Haishin from the small room.
Minutes later they were stood at the door that separated Neji's cell from the rest of the prison.
"Do not say anything to him, Shikamaru. I want to see how he reacts to you. I will find out if you have betrayed us in my own way and if you have you will pay."
"Do you doubt me, Old Man?" Shikamaru asked.
"No," Haishin replied. "But others do."
Shikamaru nodded and together they entered the room.
Neji stood fully as he heard the door open. When he saw Shikamaru enter behind Haishin he bit back a snarl.
"It seems there's no love lost for you, Shikamaru. This is the most responsive I've seen him since we brought him in here."
Shikamaru cocked an eyebrow at Haishin's statement. "He once claimed we were friends," Shikamaru said.
"Friends! Hah! Don't you just love the irony, Shikamaru?" Haishin asked as he whirled around to focus his gaze on Shikamaru.
"Irony is never funny in my eyes, Old Man, you should know that much at least."
With a smile he turned back to Neji who stood regally at odds with the chains that bound him like a dog.
"And what about you, Hyūga," Haishin said as he leaned in to Neji's personal space. "Does the irony of your situation amuse you," he whispered seductively into Neji's ear. "Or does it make your blood boil with fury? Does the fact that you chose Shikamaru to break your chains only to have him place you in a literal prison, chained and unable to escape make you realise that as a Hyūga pet you really wanted for nothing."
"The only thing I feel is the overwhelming desire to kill you both," Neji growled. "You seem to know a lot about my family, I wonder if you realise how good Hyūga pets really are at breaking their chains."
"Such big words from a little boy," Haishin said. "I wonder if you'll be as vocal when Ame men are through with you." He turned to walk back to the door. "Come, Shikamaru."
[[A/N]] We're almost to the point where Shikamaru's plan comes into action now but Neji still wants to murder him (wouldn't you?) but unfortunately Haishin also seems to have something up his sleeve.
Lessthanthree you all
WatchingAsYouFall