Announcement:
Presenting Academy Days, sub-arc 3: Uchiha arc! "The Curse of an Uchiha"
Happy Reading!
Thinking
"Bijuu speaking"
Something Else
*Japanese (non-usual)
An'un [暗雲]
English Meaning(s) for 暗雲
Dark clouds; foreboding
暗("kura") dark
雲("kumo") clouds
《Arc 2: Academy days: The Curse of an Uchiha》
–Part 3–
Chapter 17: Ominous Signs
The rain won't stop.
Shikamaru's face remains blank, eyes dark and unturning from the empty casket being lowered to the upturned soil. He ignored the sounds of grief that surrounded him as his eyes remained focused on the simple picture that sat on the small pedestal covered with flowers.
He could feel a warm comforting hand on top of his hair, for once, left out of his standard style. He could feel it, but the emptiness and bubbling something remained within him. He made no reaction as both familiar and unfamiliar people surrounded him.
But his eyes lifted as soon as he felt the familiar chakra.
His eyes lifted as the gathered Uchiha clan members pulled away to part for a single familiar person.
The glares on the esteemed clan heir were obvious. But just like Shikamaru, the young shinobi's face remained blank. He moved purposefully, Shikamaru noted, almost lazily, as he trudged forwards to the singular tombstone.
Then he stopped in front of the name.
Uchiha Shisui.
The idiot.
Shikamaru stepped forward, away from his parents. He could feel the curious and annoyed gazes, but he ignored them. He continued to walk until he stood beside his quiet friend.
The physically young boy didn't believe that the wetness of the ANBU's cheeks was only due to the rain.
They stood silent, faces blank.
But they didn't need to say anything, it was understood.
Shisui was an idiot.
Yoshino sighed in obvious weariness as she sat beside her female companions. Yamanaka Noriko(1) frowned disapprovingly as the younger woman sagged on her seat, seated perfectly posed, as always. Akimichi Chiharu (2) only frowned in pity towards her younger friend, plating a small teacup with the herbal tea she had prepared beforehand to be set on the table in front of the brunette.
"You should not sag, Yoshino-chan," Noriko softly reprimanded, but Yoshino knew her friend too well to know the sharpness within her eyes
"I'm not sagging," she mumbled back in return, feeling like one of her boys
"Are things not going well at home?" Chiharu curiously questioned, eyes friendly, and as ever, accented by her orange eyeshadows.
"Not really," Yoshino admitted as she finally sat up, eyes turning towards the cloudy sky her baby loved to see, "Shika-chan is still quiet and 'Kaku often comes home more tired, if that's possible"
"Same goes for 'Chi," Noriko frowned
"'Za isn't highly involved with whatever is going on, but he's been called to more missions lately," Chiharu offered with her own concerned frown
"Whatever's going on," Yoshino mumbled distractedly, mind worrying over her blonde daughter-in-law that had skipped out on sending a letter that week, something the young child had never done before for the past year that she had been gone. But her mind could not help but also jump towards her despondent son that often remained seated with a contemplative look in their courtyard, "I hope my baby won't get hurt anymore"
"He's preparing for the life of a Shinobi," Noriko softly reminded, eyes soft, as Yoshino knows the woman understands.
"I just wish Naru-chan is back to ebb the pain of whatever the boys are going through," Yoshino admitted, sighing helplessly
She hated being so helpless.
Meeting the eyes of both Chiharu and Noriko that also held the understanding glint, she knew she wasn't alone.
Hopefully, whatever she was feeling wasn't a foreboding premonition of something worse to come.
Somehow, she highly doubted it.
Itachi softly sighed, eyes turned up towards the soft moonlight that loomed overhead, casting the leaves above his head into rustling, moving shadows around him. The soft rustling of leaves announced the presence of his comrade, but he made no outward reaction besides a small tilt of his head.
A small figure appeared beside him.
He glanced down with a frown, "you don't seem bothered"
"Believe me, Itachi, I am bothered. I'm seething," the younger voice grumbled out as he sagged on the soft grass, shadows seemingly unconsciously weaving around the boy's legs.
"Was that...sarcasm?" Itachi blinked
"No"
Silence once more sat between the two before a soft sigh disturbed the air, and Itachi tensed in preparation for the questioning of the younger boy.
"How long?"
The question made Itachi pause to ponder about. Even he did not know how long he had, but he knew it wasn't as long as either of them had wanted.
None of them wanted this.
He closed his eyes, "I don't know, it has only been three months since Shisui…"
They both sighed.
The silence permeated the air once more, but Itachi did not mind. He knew that they understood each other. He knew that the younger boy understood what must be done.
Unsurprisingly, it wasn't the first time that he was glad to have met the younger boy.
"It's up to you"
The Uchiha heir stayed silent. It wasn't a question, he knew, and so, he found no reason to respond. He doesn't think he would be able to respond, even if he had to.
"I'll take care of them. Naruto and Sasuke."
He felt his lips twitch a little. He dipped his head towards the younger boy. There was a rustle of clothes, and he blinked as he suddenly held a familiar necklace with three circular hoops.
"Naru did a lot of effort for that and Sasuke's necklace," the younger boy grumbled, "She'll rather that you wore it than it being laid forgotten"
Itachi allowed the twitch on his lips to form a small, sad, smile.
"You'll do well, Shikamaru," he muttered softly, and smiled when the younger boy turned away with flushed cheeks and a scowl on his lips
Then, he was gone with a flock of crows.
Naruto narrowed her eyes at the man that sat cross-legged in front of her. She could feel the anger of Kurama within her. Despite the fact that she still did not fully trust someone she had thought to be her friend, she knew she could trust his instincts.
And his instincts were shouting at her that the man before her was dangerous.
"You have really blonde hair," the man spoke with a gratingly high voice that made said blonde wince, "it makes Tobi angry"
But she remained silent. A part of her was urging the old Pervert to come back to their assigned meeting spot, but she knew she still had a few minutes until time was up.
For a shinobi, just a few seconds was already dangerous.
"Not talking when someone is talking to you is rude, you know," the seven year old ignored the disappointed tone of the stranger, "but it's okay, Tobi will forgive you because Tobi is a good boy!"
She remained silent, ignoring the weird sensation of familiarity and… sadness?
"Naru- Who are you?" The gruff demand of her guardian and godfather made Naruto nearly sag with relief, she knew she wouldn't be able to protect herself against the seemingly dangerous man.
"Oh! It's the Toad! Hello Toad! You're not dead anymore!" the man had jumped with a happy dance
But Naruto froze at the words he had uttered.
"You're not dead anymore"
She held back the gasp as she suddenly saw a vision of a small, old green frog looking at her sadly. She saw Tsunade-neechan and Shizune-neesan looking away with desolate eyes.
She saw Shikamaru frowning at her.
"Ignore his words kit," the familiar deep voice of Kurama snapped Naruto away out of her weird stupor, surprised that his voice was suddenly so clear, "that's because your highly emotional state is channeling more of my chakra"
What?
"Never mind," there was a tired sigh, "don't let that pervert fight, he might die"
Naruto gulped as she looked at her godfather in panic and worry. Jiraiya seemed to have noticed as his blank face shifted to a frown.
"What do you mean?" he asked with narrowed eyes, and the masked man laughed
Naruto shivered.
It had sounded so empty and cold.
"You have bad students, Toad," the man made a sound that sounded like a tongue clicking. The sudden oppressive chakra made Naruto gasp as she was suddenly frozen.
The man's voice had dropped a few octaves lower.
Then she was in the arms of the man, lifted by the scruff of her baggy orange jacket she had begged the old pervert to buy for her. "Let me go!" she screamed in panic, eyes wide in fear.
"Naruto!" her godfather had cried out, before his hands started to form seals.
Both of them narrowed their eyes when the man casually walked out of the swamp that had supposedly trapped the man's legs. There was another clicking tongue sound as Naruto suddenly found herself being chucked in the air.
Her godfather had easily caught her, cradling her tightly in his arms. The blonde easily clenched her small fists on his red haori, burying her face on his green shirt.
"Tobi is wrong," she heard the man say, voice back to the grating high pitched tone, "your students weren't bad. You're just a bad teacher"
She could feel the older man tensing, and she tightened her grasp on his clothes, disagreeing with the masked man.
She couldn't repress her shudder.
She could feel her godfather's emotions plummeting.
"Well, Tobi has played enough. Tobi still has to play with a clan! Tobi will find you later, Na~ru-chan~!"
She resisted the urge to shiver in fear. His words were light, high-pitch and grating.
But the oppressive chakra that wrapped around the immediate area spoke of danger.
The silence that stretched afterwards made Naruto uncomfortable. Lifting her head, she frowned as she saw the haunted look on her (secretly) favorite adult's face. Well, maybe second? She really liked Yoshino-nee.
Raising a hand, she cupped the man's cheek.
He looked down in surprise.
"You're not a bad sensei, Jiraiya-sensei," she spoke as seriously as she could, despite the fear that clung to her like a shroud, "don't listen to him"
He kept looking at her in surprise before a small smile made its way on his face, "really, Naru?"
She grinned, as wide as possible, "really, 'ttebayo! You're teaching the awesome Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage, so you can't be a bad sensei!"
The man blinked before he laughed as he embraced her.
Naruto blissfully ignored the wet feeling building on the shoulder the man had buried his face in.
'Kurama?' she hesitantly thought
"Yes…?" she nearly smiled to hear his voice as hesitant as hers
'Will you help me protect my loved ones? I think he'll hurt my loved ones…' she frowned
"I will, Naruto, you didn't even have to ask"
'Did you know what he wanted?' she quietly asked
A sigh. "Me, kit"
Oh.
She pursed her lips, eyes narrowing in determination, 'then I'll protect you too, 'Rama"
Naruto could feel the surprise, but she did not comment on it, choosing to close whatever door had opened in order to focus on her godfather.
That didn't mean she didn't smile when she felt the waves of gratitude.
Hiruzen sighed as he looked down at the simple paper and bloodied hitai-ate on his desk. With a flick of his hand, a masked shinobi appeared before him with his head bowed low.
"Get me Uchiha Itachi"
The masked shinobi disappeared, just as a knock on his door announced his meeting.
He could only sigh wearily as two elderly men and an elderly woman shuffled in with grim frowns on their faces. He signalled once more, and the subtle shift in the wind indicated the obedience of his men.
'Unlike these three,' he dryly thought.
"Hiruzen," the bandaged man greeted as emptily as possible
"Danzo, Homura, Koharu," he greeted each individual evenly
"Things are getting worse, Hiruzen," Koharu spoke up immediately, frowning unrelentingly.
"I know"
Somehow, their frowns etched deeper on their wrinkled faces.
"Would you take the chance to see things my way, then, old friend?" Danzo asked.
Hiruzen met his old friend's singular eyes with his own tight frown. Once more, wondering, 'What are you planning, Danzo?'
"Are you giving me a choice, old friend?" He curiously asked.
The silence of the three gave him all the answers that he needed.
"Leave," he commanded, waving towards the door, "I have another important meeting"
"You cannot stall things, Hiruzen, if you don't act now-"
"I act," Hiruzen spoke softly, interrupting Homura, "when I need to act. I don't believe that the time is now."
Hearing a brief knock, he tilted his head towards his old friends once more.
The three shuffled out after a final glare directed to him. As he watched their backs disappear out of the room, he sighed in weariness and longing for his childhood friends once more.
"Hokage-sama?"
He sadly smiled at the young heir that had shuffled inside. Before he could even speak, the young boy's gaze had trailed to the bloodied hitai-ate on his desk. Hiruzen silently watched as the young boy paled and visibly calmed his shaking hands by clenching them tightly.
The shaky breath was almost audible to his trained ears.
"Oh," the young boy had muttered, grief visible on his young face
He could not blame the child.
Having lost two closest comrades within a year of peacetime, much more so within a three-months-too close, too cursed-would surely do the same to Hiruzen. Alas, having been a Hokage for decades, he was sadly used to the pain of losing comrades at arms in every situation.
And seeing how things had been escalating the past few years, Hiruzen knows that it was a matter of time until things spiral totally out of his control.
"Was there..?"
He nearly missed the quiet and hesitant question of the young captain that had stayed frozen, eyes trained on the singular bloody headgear that remained on his desk.
"No body was found, I'm afraid," the old Hokage sighed, "I had sent my best available trackers, but aside from," he gestured to the headpiece, "the other teams' bodies had been accounted"
"The whole team?" Itachi asked with obvious surprise, "was it not a simple courier mission?"
"It was," Hiruzen frowned, and based on Itachi's narrowed eyes, he knew the young boy had reached his own similar suspicions.
He could not help but bitterly smile, the young man will achieve great things. He has the will of fire burning through him, and with his longing of peace, he will be a great Hokage.
But Hiruzen was afraid the young man might be forced to make a decision none of them had wanted, soon.
"Would you like to inform her mother?" He kindly asked, trying to project an air of comfort towards the young boy, for he was just a child, just a young age of twelve, thirteen in a few months, if he recalls properly.
The heir softly shook his head as he placetedly paced forward to receive the only item he can receive. Seeing the bloodied hitai-ate within such small hands made the old man's chest pang in grief and sadness.
The young boy had lost too much.
The young shinobi would have to lose much more.
Nodding, Hiruzen closed his eyes. The almost silent clipped sound of the door closing signalized the much too old leader to wearily sunk in his chair. Resisting the urge to groan, he, once more, cursed the fact that it was not him that had died seven years ago.
His thoughts made him curiously wander about his favorite sunny blonde. The child had missed out writing a single letter for the week, but he had received his student's weekly report. The sage had reported nothing wrong.
So why did Naruto not write a letter?
A shift of chakra drew him out of his thoughts. Sighing softly he nodded at the ANBU operative that had come to report, "what is it?"
"Inu had arrived from his mission, it was a success, sir," the panther-masked man calmly reiterated, "Kitsune (fox) had also survived his strenuous injuries, but will remain to be out of commission for the time being. So has Tori (bird), she had been placed under TI such as you had commissioned"
Hiruzen softly sighed, partially out of relief, partially out of weariness. "I see, thank you, Hyō (panther)"
The ANBU operative gave a brief nod before disappearing once more. Just as Hiruzen was about to call in his secretary to contact his wayward student, a brief knock stopped him.
"Enter"
A familiar scarred man appeared, tired bags visibly seen under his eyes, and Hiruzen had to repress the guilt of pushing the man to the point of visible tiredness.
"Shikaku, to what do I owe this pleasure?" he simply asked, hands folding precisely above his desk, two fingers snapping over his other fist
The man's sharp eyes caught the movement, "nothing much to report, Hokage-sama, Shikamaru wishes to ask for Naruto's letter?"
Hiruzen frowned openly, "he has not submitted any of such for the past week, pass my apologies to Shikamaru-kun, if you would. It seems that my student had been keeping her too busy. But it shouldn't last too long, he should send his letter soon"
The man nodded, lips forming to a grimm frown, "I understand, Hokage-sama, and of his request of a playdate of Konohamaru-kun? It seems that Neji-kun and Hinata-chan seems to be fancy of this idea as well"
Hiruzen chuckled, keeping mirth visible in his eyes as his pinkie twitched, "Neji-kun, Hinata-chan, and Shikamaru-kun can meet Konohamaru any time they wish, but not for now, it seems that my eldest hopes to bring their child to visit Asuma soon"
"I understand, Hokage-sama," the man gave a short bow, "thank you for your time"
"Thank Shikamaru-kun for me too," Hiruzen added with a chuckle, "his clue on the last Shogi match won me a game against Ibiki"
Shikaku's lips twitched as he gave another brief bow before shuffling out of the room.
Hiruzen kept his eyes steady on the door, before sighing softly within the quiet office. Swiveling his chair around, his eyes softened as he took in the view of the sun's setting rays on his beloved village.
"I have done what you asked me to do," he muttered under his breath, barely heard as he closed his eyes, "now I entrust you to do your part, too"
He breathed in as he, despite himself, smirked under the shadows of his wide hat, "Shikamaru-kun"
"Shikamaru-sama, maybe you should rest"
Brown eyes lazily watched the small form of his son pant, as the young seven year old boy pushed himself to stand back up again. From his peripheral view at the sidelines, Shikaku could easily see the shakiness of his son's arms, and based on the tight frown on Kasuga's face, his young nephew can also see the tiredness of the heir.
"Why do you push yourself, Shika?" he murmurs underneath his breath, frown marring his face
"Your son is a weird one," a familiar voice grumbled, and Shikaku had to repress the smirk, "especially for a six year old"
Based on his first cousin's glower, he didn't hide it successfully enough. Eh, no matter.
Shrugging, Shikaku leaned further back to the tree behind him, raising his eyes to the slowly dancing clouds above him, "Shikamaru was never a normal child, not since his birth. Plus, he's seven, he'll be annoyed if you tell him he looks like a six year old. He'll be entering the Academy in a month."
Ensui hummed as he leaned beside him, "I remember that day, the shrine's bells were very noisy," equal dark and intelligent eyes met, "and I'm pretty sure those bells has no clappers to even allow any sounds to ring"
"Miyuki-sama said that it was the sign of the Tengoku's (3) arrival on earth," Shikaku offered, but it was obvious on his own scowl that he had no understanding of what that had meant
"Heaven's arrival?" Ensui asked, raising a brow
Shikaku shrugged, "or the Warden, who knows? Can't really ask the old hag anything anymore"
Ensui huffed, "Shikamaru stopped meeting the Uchiha's heir for four months, now"
The Nara clan head frowned, "when was the last time that they had met?"
"Three months after the death of their friend"
Closing his eyes, Shikaku refused the urge to groan in confusion. He barely knows what was going on anymore. He had played nonchalant when he had been cornered by Inoichi for ignoring the pale-blonde man several months ago at the entrance of the Hokage tower.
Shikaku was not in any area near the tower that day.
He pried an eye open to once more watch his son go through his kata once more, the boy groaning loudly when Kasuga managed to push the child back to the ground.
Yes, his son was up to something. He would bet it was in line with his and Hiashi's speculation of a possible coup d'état from the Uchiha clan. No, none of them were sure as of yet, but people can feel the tension.
"His girlfriend died, too," Shikaku finally spoke, adding his own two cents to his conversation with his cousin
"I heard they weren't really going out," Ensui shrugged, "it was more of those fancy things kids have"
Shikaku snorted, "I'm pretty sure you were enamored by a particular hotheaded red-head back as a kid"
He grinned as his cousin started to splutter a denial.
"Oyaji?"
He hummed as his son came over with a confused look. Shikaku noted to up his son's sensing training. If the boy was up to something, it was his role as a father to ensure his son's survival.
"Hey, kiddo," Shikaku greeted, ruffling the boy's already messy locks, and grinning back at the glower and scowl he received, "your uncle's just being a sissy"
"Am not!"
"En-nii?" Kasuga asked, also in confusion as the recently promoted Chunin followed his son's approach, "you're a sissy?"
Shikaku snorted again as Ensui groaned.
"He's a sissy for red-heads and hotblooded troublesome women," Shikaku added
"Just one, Shikaku!" Ensui growled, "not women"
"Ah," Shikaku nodded, "so you admit you were a sissy for her"
He grinned as he heard his cousin's groans once more. His eyes fell down to his son's amused but speculative look. Shikaku hummed, wondering if his son knew who he was talking about.
"Honestly, you were so heartbroken when the other blonde sissy finally manned up and asked her out," he continued.
His eyes saw the quick and hidden spark within his son's eyes.
'Ah,' he thought curiously, 'he knows, most probable than not'
He simply grinned as the sound of his cousin's groans filled his ears once more, followed by the amused chuckles of the man's younger brother, also known as his son's personal guard and trainer.
Ah, the beauty of being a clan head.
Itachi sighed as he stepped out of his father's office, teeth gnashing together in his hidden annoyance as his eyes briefly flashes red. Shaking his head, he steps out of the household and towards the outskirts of the compound, ignoring the glares and fear-filled glances directed towards him.
He closed his eyes as their whispers drifted across the winds and towards his ears.
"Friend-killer"
"...Cursed"
"Two dead in three months"
"He'll lead us only to destruction"
"Cursed prodigy…"
Shaking his head, he jumped to the nearest building's roof as soon as his sandals left the grounds of the clan. Aimlessly allowing his body to move as his thoughts wander to his conversation with his father.
"You refuse to join our clan's meeting, time and time again, Itachi," he had a frown, as usual, but Itachi could see a hidden and confusing emotions within the man's eyes
"I do not see the need to go, Chichi-ue, I have my own duties to fulfill," he responded emotionlessly
The man shook his head, "it has been months, my boy, there is no more need to grieve, our clan is rising, to prevent more of these deaths"
Itachi froze, he pushed down the need to snarl-that was not like him. But, he could not repress the anger that started to bubble up from within him.
Unknowing of his son's emotions, Uchiha Fugaku continues, "you are the pride of the Uchiha, Itachi"
"Itachi?"
The said prepubescent shinobi halted his movements from hearing the familiar voice. Tilting his head upwards, he was surprised to see a familiar shock of white hair.
"Kakashi-taicho," he murmured in greeting, still not feeling like himself
The man arched a brow from the only eye visibly seen, "walk with me?"
Sighing, the teen followed the disguised order and jumped back down to the quiet main street beside his leader. The two trekked quietly, Itachi's eyes wandering around for any curious shinobi and civilians alike. Following the older man into a sweets store, he made no acknowledgements as the man ordered two plates of dango and sat on one of the back seats. The two can easily spot any nearby persons, but the shadows managed to hide their disposition quite easily.
Itachi did not speak until the waitress had set their sweets and tea before scurrying back to serve the other patrons.
"What do you need of me, taicho?" he curiously asked the man as he (somehow) sipped the tea through his mask
"I had been following you for awhile, Itachi, you did not acknowledge me," Itachi winced at the inquisitive look the man's eye held, behind the lazy half-lidded stare, "is there a reason to my subordinate's lack of awareness despite being known to be the most paranoid out of our team, second only to me?"
"None, sir," the young ANBU replied almost immediately, "it will not affect my performance"
Kakashi kept his eyes trained on his person. By the time the older man shifted his glance away, Itachi nearly wanted to sigh in relief.
"I heard the whispers," the man nonchalantly said, and Itachi had to frown, "friend killer isn't that very creative, they just re-used it from my own cursed title"
Itachi had to blink in surprise at that. The man rarely opens up about anything, much more so about the hidden (although it was not that truly hidden, as almost the entire village was basically aware, save for the majority of the civilians) cursed past of his leader.
"Taicho?" he had murmured, both in confusion and wariness
The man hummed, "Remember when I told you about my sharingan? People also said I killed my friends too, my teammates. One of them was your own clan member," pointing lazily towards the man's inclined hitai-ate, "your clan hates me for this, by the way"
Itachi shrugged, "I heard from Shisui it was Obito-san's last gift for you, I believe it rightly belongs to you"
"Right," the white haired man nodded, "much was said by your father when he finally approached me about the topic"
"My father?" Itachi could not help but ask with a tone of incredulousness
Kakashi snorted, "hard to believe, I know. But his exact words were, 'as much as the council disagrees, Hatake, my nephew had decided to give you his sharingan, this much we can be certain, based on the Yamanaka's techniques. As you are now a weidler of our clan's technique, I will hold on to you to be accountable that it does not damage the clan's image, am I understood?'"
Itachi frowned, partly in annoyance, another in confusion, "the clan's image"
Kakashi rosed a brow but Itachi shook his head, "thank you for the sweets, taicho, I should be taking my leave as dinner is fast approaching and Haha-ue will not be pleased with my absence"
The Hatake nodded, "go ahead, Itachi"
Giving one last bow to the man he highly respects, the twelve-soon-to-be-thirteen-year old made his way back to the compound, but instead of heading for his own house, he pivoted towards the direction of the Nakano Shrine. Ceasing at the entrance of the temple, he made his way around, towards the back where he entered a clove of trees.
His footfalls continued to trekk lightly as he made his way to finally reach a stone opening. He paused at the edge of the entrance, eyes narrowing, "I know you're here, show yourself"
The quietness was disturbed by the now familiar distortion of space as a masked individual made his presence known. The tilting of his head made Itachi inwardly frown, once again, wondering if the man will speak this time.
"You said the clan will revolt and it will lead to their downfall," Itachi started with a frown, "you said you will help me. Why?"
He wasn't surprised when all the man did was shrugged.
Itachi, refusing the urge to sigh like a petulant child of Sasuke's age, decided to narrow his eyes towards the man, "and you will not harm my brother, at all?"
A nod.
He closed his eyes, pushing his aggravated feelings away, the prepubescent heir finally sighed out with a nod, "I will call for you if I need you"
Then for the first time since he saw the man lurking around four months ago, the man spoke, freezing Itachi with the deep voice, "your village will destroy your brother if you leave him here, Itachi"
But before he could demand what he was talking about, the man had already vanished in the distorted space that he had used to arrive with. Worrying on his lips, Itachi shook his head and decided to head home.
He can't help but wonder what exactly the masked man had meant.
"Sasuke, I will always love you"
He shook his head, eyes wide in horror. Was it tears falling down the side of his cheeks or was it blood? He didn't understand, but it scared him. His brother was glowing in front of him, wobbling, but his smile was warm, as always. Safe.
Then his brother disappeared and all Sasuke could see were the blood that surrounded him. He shook his head as he pushed his body to keep running. He has to go to them. He had to make sure his family was safe.
A scream brought his attention just in time.
There was a flash of pink, and he could feel himself cry out, eyes wide in horror as the ever-familiar (why was it familiar?) sensation of blood covered him. The pink was rapidly turning to red, and all he could do was to stare. He couldn't scream, he couldn't feel anything but anger and hurt for losing another loved one and confusion on why she took that attack for him and—
"Sasuke"
A seven year old boy gasped as he awoke. He panted as if he had been running instead of sleeping, tears caking his chubby childish cheeks as his eyes were wide and unseeing.
"Sasuke!"
Shaking his head, he turned his head to see the familiar face of his brother, worry was evident. Worry for him. But all Sasuke could see were his brother's cracked face, glowing, and uttering last words and leaving him and—
"Sasuke, hey, it's okay"
He felt himself be pulled into a warm, comforting hug, and he immediately sank into it. He buried his face into his brother's chest, and his fists tightly clenched against the fabric of his brother's shirt. He was still shaking, he could tell, but he focused on his brother's warmth, his scent, his presence.
"What happened, Sasuke? Was it a nightmare?"
Sasuke refused to answer. No, not refused, he couldn't answer. As much as he wanted it to be just a nightmare…
It felt too real and it scared him.
"Sasuke?"
"Nii-san," he answered in a small, shaky voice, "st-stay with me tonight, please?"
There was a short silence, but Sasuke felt his brother move until they were both tucked into his bed once more. Sasuke pursed his lips as he felt his brother comfortingly stroke his hair, just like how kaa-chan does when she stays with him at night.
"You won't leave me, right Nii-san?"
"I won't, Sasuke, I'll never leave you alone"
Lies. He closed his eyes as he ignored the hiss of what scarily sounds like his own voice.You'll do it again, you'll leave me again, just like last time.
Last time?
"Nii-san?" he asked again, but his voice slurred, as the warmth and safety of his brother lulled him to sleep once more.
"Go to sleep, Sasuke, I'll be right here"
Sasuke nodded, allowing him to fall into slumber once more.
When he awoke, alone, the day after, he refused to allow the fearful foreboding to affect him.
But somehow, he felt like, next time, his brother will do more than simply leave him in the morning.
He felt like he was running out of time with his brother.
Shikamaru woke up with a start. Peering into the darkness of his room for what had pulled him from his slumber, he narrowed his eyes as his hand reached for the kunai he kept under his pillow. Shifting to sit up with silent movements, he kept his shoulders tensed, before a familiar presence made itself known and he dropped his position to flop back in bed.
"Can't you come by in a better time that isn't four in the goddamn morning?" he grumbled
"You speak as if I have a choice in what time I will be able to drop by," was the bemused answer
Shifting to sit and properly greet his guest, Shikamaru frowned as he met ruby red eyes, "didn't I tell you not to use that so you won't be blind?"
A shrug.
"So, why are you here?" the younger heir asked, unamused
"To congratulate you for entering the academy tomorrow?"
The time traveller snorted, "try again, Itachi"
The weary heir sighed, and made his way to sit beside Shikamaru. For a while, the two just sat silently, and it wasn't the first time Shikamaru missed the idiot's presence who takes away the silence of the two heirs.
Either him or Naru.
Kami, he misses Naru so much. It's surprising that it was going to be two years in a few months. But he's coping. He has to, he's doing all these preparations for Naru.
"Things aren't getting better, Shikamaru," the physically older boy finally admitted with a sigh, "and I have been drafted as ANBU captain under Danzō-sama"
Shikamaru frowned, "and the Sandaime knows?"
He was answered by a singular look. The usual lazy boy sighed, 'well, there goes one plan. Unless…?'
"Where you...told? Of any plans?" he asked curiously
Itachi frowned, fingering the simple metal necklace that Naru had gifted, "Hokage-sama wishes to try and speak to the clan, once more. But ever since," a wince, "the clan had become more volatile, as of late, and I feel like Danzō-sama has a plan."
"He hasn't approached you?" Shikamaru asked in surprise, expecting the man to be upfront about the orders as soon as possible
"No," the sharingan weilder frowned, eyes snapping to the smaller boy, "but, he had asked about you. I do caution you to be careful in showing your true capabilities. Both Naruto and Sasuke need you in the light. Let me be the one in the darkness"
Shikamaru scowled, "can't do everything yourself"
He was met by an amused arched brow. The Uchiha heir stood up gracefully, smiling warmly towards the younger boy, "this might be the last time that we can physically speak to each other, Shikamaru"
Said boy frowned, ignoring the pang in his chest, the sudden feel of loneliness, "we still have time, Itachi
The heir shook his head, pursing his lips before he sighed. Dark eyes meeting equally dark eyes clashed in the darkness of the room. "Thank you"
Then Shikamaru was alone, once more.
The time traveller closed his eyes, the quiet voice hoarse as he whispered guiltily in the silent air, "I'm sorry"
He doesn't know to whom was he apologizing to.
Naruto Stuff
Yamanaka Noriko - details about Ino's mom are taken from Narutopedia. I took the name of the voice actor for the mom, since she was never mentioned to have a name
Akimichi Chiharu - details about Choji's mom are taken from Narutopedia. I took the name of the voice actor for the mom, since she was never mentioned to have a name
Japanese
典獄 (Tengoku) - "warden" alternatively 天国 (Tengoku) - "heaven" ; this is why Tengoku was described to have two meanings by Ensui and Shikaku in this chapter
A/N:
I'm so glad I can update this week too. Thank you for all your supportive reviews! And I'm so glad people are enjoying this as much as I am, too!
Thoughts:
I didn't expect this chapter to be this long, tbh. I just kept typing what felt right and then, this happened. Oops?
RR if you wish!
Reply/s:
Amaterasu53 thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. It usually does decrease my stress, I just really felt bad for not updating at all, ya know? And I think all the pent up angst got released with this and the previous chapter, oops?
Loralie Gold Dream Well uh, you have one chapter to prepare yourself, I'm warning you now.
Valen Goncalvez Thank you for enjoying! I'm glad that you can't wait for the next chapter!
Namikaze18 Fu-kun usually gets undeserved hate. Although from what I've noticed in the anime, he's generally a caring father, just pushed too much by the council, if that makes sense. I had hope to provide the same man in my story, just a little more obvious. And yes, jelly Shika will be an adorable highlight in this story once we finally reach that point, but not yet, sadly. Thanks for the review again!
Guest (Aira) I'm glad I took your breath away? Hopefully you keep enjoying it!
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"Ya know, you don't have to be moody just cuz your girlfriend ain't here"
"Once again, not my girlfriend. And I swear, you'll be in so much trouble by your dad and the Hokage if you keep running off your mouth like that"
"Eh, schematics. Daddy already told me what I can and cannot say, Shikabaka!"
"Troublesome"
"Chips?"
"I don't understand, why will he do that?"
"It just goes to show I didn't knew him as I thought I did"
"You shouldn't be beating yourself up"
"What do you want?"
"Naru wanted me to give this to you"
"Oh so now he writes me a letter? No thanks. I don't need him. I don't need any of you"
"Look, listen to me-"
"NO, YOU LISTEN TO ME!"
"Shikamaru-kun?"
"No use, he refuses to talk, Sandaime-sama"
"I see. Call in Genma, Raidō, and Iwashi, I have a mission for them"
"Hai"
"Sandaime-sama?"
"Nothing to worry yourself, Shikaku"