Year 50
The room wasn't all that big. The training room we spent most of our time in was about half the size of a small gym, with a large bed tucked into a corner, the bathroom built into another corner and the kitchen to the left of it. Separated by walls and a door.
Every piece of free wall had been occupied with diamond fencing for the plants to grow and cling to. We'd needed to adjust the seals and expand the room a little to make more room for the garden that begun to take up too much room. Which had been a task that occupied the two of us for years before we could complete it without making the whole damn dimension implode.
The place now looked overgrown, but neat and soothing.
On our fiftieth year Minato was undertaking a great time consuming task. He was nowhere near done, but he made sure to keep it up everyday.
He was braiding my hair.
I hadn't cut it, and in fifty years my hair had grown impossibly long. So Minato took it upon himself to weave hundreds of tiny braids without clones while I worked on creating a cauldron for pill making.
Cultivation had become an increasingly harder task as we both came to realize that the spiritual energy of a pocket dimension was incredibly scarce. I had so far gotten to the sixth level in fifty years, while Minato had gotten to the fourth, and our progress had only slowed.
With how much energy we needed to absorb and integrate into our souls, we were due to eventually come to a standstill.
We needed those soul pills.
Year 100
With the workings of the cauldron underway, Minato and I found other things to do for fun.
We couldn't spend all our time on cultivating like we wanted since we constantly had to give the universe a break. We couldn't take it all without completely shattering the Kamui dimension and possibly killing Obito.
So I took some time to reinvent movie equipment, computers, and the like, so we could create movies. Of course all the movies had us as the actors, henged and acting like completely different people.
We were developing movie adaptations of my novels, and it had been incredibly fun and exciting.
I also used my little science skills to start creating new plants by altering the cells of plant seeds. I would then plant them, and document their uses and methods for bringing the plant to full growth.
I couldn't just make soul pills out of nothing after all.
Year 150
The cauldron was complete.
It took years of trial and error, but I had finally discovered that the best way to make cauldrons was with human bodies and their souls. It was a good thing I hadn't used up all of the bodies I had been hoarding for Manda.
I was able to summon the souls of the bodies I had and use the soul to shape the body into a diamond cauldron. Once the souls energy was completely used up, it would dissipate and become one with the energy surrounding us.
It didn't just cease to exist, it just got absorbed by the plants. So whoever these souls belonged to, just ended up reincarnating as plants.
Supposedly. Theoretically.
Whatever it was, it didn't make me feel guilty at all. It soothed my heart to know that even if I did eventually get destroyed by the shinigami, it didn't mean that I'd ever stop existing.
I'd just become something different.
Even a shattered soul can become something new. There was never a true ending, because a soul could never truly be destroyed. There was only new beginnings.
Anyway, I sucked the souls of their spiritual juices and made a damn cauldron.
And I created my first pill.
Year 200
Turns out pill making was a skill in of itself. The art of alchemy, was basically being able to take the essence of various plants, and guide it into a pill shape using spiritual energy, because chakra did fuck all in this situation. However I had to actually learn how to do it, while keeping a spiritual fire lit in the cauldron to burn up the plants and hold the energy of the plants inside it.
It took a lot of patience, and Minato ended up having more success with the art than I did. In fact, he had most of the ideas on how to improve the pills we made so they'd actually do what they were meant to do.
Both Minato and I had our own cauldrons and pill making stations, and we constantly competed and threw ideas at each other until we finally created a whole batch of successful pills that actually worked.
I could feel how the pill seemed to strengthen my core and deepen the spiritual pool inside me. I could feel how much easier it was to take in the energy of the universe without letting any of it go to waste.
I soon understood the intricacies of spiritual energies, since the pills had basically opened my soul up and firmly attached it to my body.
Suddenly I had greater control of my own body, sensations became more heavenly so to say, and I could also feel the strength of another's spiritual energy through the pores of my skin.
I loved the new sensations, and the amazing feeling of being closely connected to everything around me. It just made me feel so godly. I was certain it was the same for Minato as well.
Suddenly the sounds of cracks echoed loudly around us. I blinked my eyes open and stared at the diamond wall in front of me that suddenly had a large crack across it. The seals keeping them from breaking had somehow been dissolved by our energies alone.
"Ah that's not good." Minato gulped.
Year 250
I was forced to begin using my spiritual power instead of chakra to power my jutsu's.
I strengthened the diamond walls and made them so powerful that they practically vibrated with intense pressure.
I had inadvertently discovered an entirely new branch of jutsu, or spells, that could potentially have a devastating effect on spiritual creatures. I could kill the shinigami with this.
Though there wasn't much room to practice these new techniques in the room. The most we could do was practice the smaller scaled jutsu and hope it was enough to help us against the shinigami. Our time dilution seals could only be used so far after all.
We'd have to spend some time outside of the room practicing the larger jutsu on some of those floating cubes.
Minato didn't do as much training as I did with spiritual energy since he was actually working on seals that could help it. After the pills, our cultivation had skyrocketed.
However we had both reached another issue once we'd made it to the last five levels of the cultivation techniques.
We needed more spiritual energy than this puny Kamui dimension could create. Our progress was so slow that we could only cultivate for five minutes each, at separate times every 24 hours.
If this continued the way it was, the two of us would have to stay in the dimension for another hundred thousand years. Even diluting the time seals further would do nothing.
So Minato worked and worked and eventually, he developed a seal he liked to call the 'spiritual energy multiplier 9000'.
The seal works with time, and alongside the time dilution seals currently pulsing on the walls around us. Everything about the seal is intensely difficult, and wouldn't have ever came to existence without hundreds of years of seal mastery.
Minato explained the workings of the seal to me thoroughly. Long explanation short, the seal takes in the energy of the universe and multiplies it by making it larger. It was connected to a dial that can adjust the level, and written all over the walls.
The seal was massive, and took months to finish writing on the walls. Especially since I'd had to take down the garden and seal it way until we were done, and then put it back up again afterwards.
It was so worth it.
Obito's Kamui dimension sky rocketed with spiritual energy that the both of us took it in like starving lions. Those last five levels were reached easily by that point, and yet it still felt as if we could go further than that.
However, the techniques we had weren't enough to get us to advance any further. It was like we were stuck at a bottleneck, and no amount of spiritual energy could push us past it.
So we reread the scrolls, and figured out ways to develop the techniques further or create our own. That we were clearly missing important information didn't faze us.
Even the gods had to start from somewhere, so we kept going. I tossed ideas from books I'd read in my first life at Minato and he did what he could with them. Testing theories and making techniques and tossing away ideas that didn't work and integrating ideas that did into something that could bring us closer to godhood.
We both came to the conclusion that we needed to undergo a transformation of sorts. Our bodies were strengthened because of our souls, but now our bodies needed to be strengthened for our souls.
The physical form keeping our souls inside us was now inhibiting us. It was clear that we needed to either change it...or discard it completely.
Eventually we created a technique that would do both, but had the potential to be incredibly painful and risky.
"What an unyouthful rumour! Kakashi, you should never partake in such activities like gossip!" Gai scolded self righteously.
"Yes, yes. I don't believe Shikamaru would do something so indecent in public with a civilian anyway." Kakashi shrugged lazily as he picked at his ear. He glanced over at Lee, subtly. Recognizing the scent on him as Shikamaru's.
He wasn't going to say anything about it of course, it wasn't any of his business.
"Indeed! That boy is too lazy to do such things! I wonder who would start such a heinous rumour!" Gai frowned.
Behind him, team Gai was training as usual in their usual training grounds. Lee was sparring against Neji, as strong as ever as he took out all his frustrations on his team mate.
He was incredibly upset with the rumours going around about Shikamaru even if no one believed them. His name didn't come up at all!
Whenever someone came up to him to tell him about the rumour no one ever mentioned how the civilian in question was actually him! Just some civilian boy wearing a dark green sweater!
It was truly unyouthful of him to let those rumours go as they were without telling everyone it was him! However he couldn't voice the truth because he knew no one would believe him anyway!
And if they did then everyone would know that the rumours going around about Shikamaru were actually true! As it was, everyone believed that someone had used a henge to have sex with someone in public for kinks.
Lee was back to his usual youthful self. After what had happened, Lee had gone down into the civilian traffic to grab his sweat pants and run away. Leaving Shikamaru up on the water basin alone to deal with the rumours by himself.
He had returned home and changed back to his usual clothes after washing his body, and redid his hair to go and break up with Sakura. She had been youthfully understanding, and Lee had gone back to his gruelling training regimen the very next day.
"Well I better head back to my cute little genin, see you around, Gai." Kakashi said with a curved eye smile before disappearing in a shunshin.
Gai shrugged and turned back to his own students to help them with their training. He didn't notice anything different about his favourite student at all.
Lee didn't even limp after what had happened yesterday, he was good at training through all kinds of pains, and the ache in his rear barely fazed him.
The only person that had looked at him differently was Neji, and that was only after he used his Byakugan and seen the bite mark on his shoulder and the looseness of his rectum.
Lee didn't realize that Neji noticed these things and continued to fight as if nothing was wrong. However Neji was taken off his game and was being beaten black and blue.
"Neji! You need to concentrate!" Gai barked out youthfully. "You can't let Lee pummel you without defending yourself!"
"Right.." Neji grunted as he tried to ignore his team mates situation. He'd have to ask Lee about it later in private.
For now, Neji needed to get his head into the game and concentrate on fighting off Lee and getting a hit if his own in.
Hours later, when they finished their training, he followed Lee to his apartment and cornered him at his door.
Lee startled at the sight of his team mate standing beside him just as he started unlocking his door. "Neji! How unyouthful sneaking up on me like this!"
"You did something." Neji droned with narrowed eyes, getting straight to the point. He wasn't one for small talk. "I've seen it."
"What do you mean?" Lee blinked with confusion as he opened the door and walked in, Neji following after him and slammed the door behind him.
Neji then poked the wound on Lee's shoulder. Lee didn't wince at the sudden attack, instead he grabbed the spot where he was poked so rudely and scowled.
"It's none of your business Neji."
Neji frowned and took a step back at the uncharacteristic hostility. "What happened."
Lee could see that his team mate was only worried about him, but it was terribly annoying for him right now. He had been planning to change into his civilian clothes again and go and see Shikamaru to talk to him about what happened. He was somewhat in a rush and this sudden interrogation really cut into time that could be used to search for the illusive shadow nin.
"Did Sakura hurt you?" Neji asked with barely held back concern.
Lee chewed on his lip and scrunched up his face with frustration. "Sakura did not do this. I had a very..unyouthful day yesterday and I participated in something... I don't know what it was but it's nothing to worry about Neji."
Neji sighed and pinched his nose. "Very well, I hope you know what your doing, Lee."
"When I figure it out, I'll tell you about it." Lee promised as he backed up, a silent dismissal in his voice. Neji looked Lee over with a frown, but took the hint and nodded to him once before leaving.
Lee sighed once Neji was gone and went to his room to change. It was already supper time, and he hoped he could find Shikamaru sooner rather than later. He knew for a fact that the lazy bastard wouldn't bother to go looking for him.
Not that it mattered, he was somewhat fond of that laziness after what had happened yesterday.
His body obviously wanted Shikamaru, and so his mind happily followed along youthfully. Changing all the things he used to dislike about the shadow nin into things he liked.
He wanted to learn to like even more things about Shikamaru. He wanted to love him, because he decided that this was worth his effort.
Lee picked up the pack of smokes after lifting his hood over his hair and felt a spark of craving fill him. He bit his lip lightly and pulled out a cigarette before putting it between his lips and sparking it up.
It was unhealthy and bad for his body, but after yesterday...it just seemed so good. He'd just have to train even harder tomorrow to make up for every cigarette he'll have tonight.
Lee breathed in the smoke with a sigh and walked out of the apartment and locked the door behind him. He shoved the key into his pocket and hopped away to begin his search.
Oddly enough, he didn't find the shadow nin lazing around anywhere. Instead he found him walking out of a bbq place with Ino and Choji on either side of him. Lee held back from his instincts to run and jump the man, and hid in the shadows to follow them.
"-No seriously! What kind of idiot would spread rumours like that about you with me as your team mate! Huh?! What kind of asshole would start this shit!?" Ino complained angrily as she threw her delicate hands into the air. Choji pulled out a bag of chips and glanced at Shikamaru worriedly.
"Troublesome." Shikamaru grunted as he stuffed his hands into his pockets and slouched even further into his chunin vest.
"Hey! Quit staring you dumb ass!" Ino barked at a passing civilian who had noticed Shikamaru and gaped at him openly. The civilian scurried away, cowed by the crazy woman.
"It's nothing to worry about Ino." Shikamaru sighed. "The rumours will die down eventually."
"Yeah! Shika wouldn't let some dumb rumour bother him hey Shika?" Choji grinned with a mouth full of chips.
Shikamaru just shrugged, not really caring either way.
Lee puffed out his cheeks as he followed the three of them from five feet away. Once again his name wasn't even mentioned. He kicked his foot in the dirt as he walked, accidentally kicking a small stone into the back of Shikamaru's head.
Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head, but didn't bother to turn around to get angry at whoever was tossing rocks. Choji and Ino didn't notice it, and he didn't want to start something troublesome.
Lee snorted silently, lighting up another cigarette with a bubbly smile. When the scent of the smoke drifted in the direction of team ten, neither of them really noticed or cared. All three far too used to the scent of cigarette smoke from their sensei.
"When I get my hands on the bastard who started this lie-"
Lee figured that was enough of that kind of talk and jumped the shadow nin from behind. He immediately wrapped his arms around Shikamaru's shoulders and wrapped his legs around his waist and clung like a monkey, his cigarette somewhere behind him on the ground.
"Ugh" Shikamaru stumbled before quickly gripping Lee's thighs and adjusting his weight to carry the boy easier. It didn't once occur to him to drop the person who'd jumped on him.
He only knew one person who would do such a thing, and the scent of cigarettes only confirmed it.
Lee hid his blushing face into the back of Shikamaru's neck and secretly breathed in his scent.
Ino and Choji stared at the random civilian suddenly clinging to their team mates back blankly. Neither of them recognizing the person. Both wondering why Shikamaru wasn't doing anything about it.
"Uhh.." Choji tried to determine who the person hiding their face into Shikamaru's neck was.
"Who's this?" Ino asked sweetly as her left eye twitched slightly. Her mind whirred as the rumour suddenly seemed a little more believable. He wouldn't have..would he?
"Boyfrien'.." Lee mumbled into Shikamaru's ear, causing him to stumble once again over his feet in shock. He quickly caught himself and blushed brightly.
"Excuse me!?" Ino squeaked. "Is he telling the truth, Shikamaru!"
Choji stuffed his mouth with more chips as he slowly looked away, his eyes slightly wide as he began to wonder if those rumours were real. It was a little hard to deny when there was a random civilian neither of them had ever met, suddenly clinging to Shikamaru's back.
"Lee." Shikamaru stated lazily. "My boyfriend, since just now."
Ino stopped in her tracks, her arm whipping to Choji and grabbing his sleeve so the both of them could turn in the middle of the road to stare at Shikamaru with shock.
"Lee!?" Ino screeched.
Lee felt a grin lift his lips, his face heating with pleasure at the confirmation. He lifted his head and sent a tiny wave to them, a giant grin spread across his face.
"Hi~!"
Shikamaru flinched slightly at the volume of Lee's voice, ducking his head down a little with a pout.
"-please tell me you two didn't have sex on a water basin yesterday noon." Ino pleaded nervously.
Lee looked at her with offence. "That would be extremely unyouthful!"
Ino sighed with relief as Choji looked at the two of them with uncertainty. Lee didn't deny it at all.
Shikamaru blinked at that and turned his head slightly to try and get a look at Lee from the corner of his eye. "So you're full of youth now?" He drawled with a smirk.
"Indeed Shikamaru-san. I must show you my thanks for yesterday, your surprising amount of youth had inspired me greatly!" Lee enthused before giving Shikamaru a small peck on the cheek, beside his ear.
Shikamaru tensed. Then he slumped a little and nodded before making his way to the park.
"I gotta go, see you guys tomorrow." Shikamaru said lazily to his friends with a small wave of his fingers. He didn't bother to look back at the two, who were both frozen in disbelief and staring after them blankly.
