Shikamaru spent three days in lockdown while preparations for the trial were made. Once his parents left he sat in his cell inside the Konoha dungeon. He had nothing but his racing thoughts and regrets to keep him company. Consequently he had done nothing but stare at the blank wall in misery.
He was dead tired from the avalanche of misfortunes. Under normal circumstances he would have been able to sleep on a hard surface without much of a problem. But what kept him up wasn't in his body, it was his mind. As soon as he began to drift off, one horrific image after another ran through his head: Neji with his face covered in blood, the corpse of the Hyuuga he had killed lying at his feet, the pained expression of his mother and the Hokage. He would wake up startled, his heart racing. Every time he opened his eyes and saw the interior of his cell again, with its dark cold bars, he was faced with the certainty that he would spend the rest of his life there. Many times he would have to fight off a panic attack as he began gasping for air.
Hours passed in a seemingly infinite cycle of monotony, but it finally ended the morning of the fourth day. Shikamaru couldn't see the sun from his cell confined to the basement of the Hokage mansion, but from the sound of footsteps above him he knew the day's activities had begun. Once again he had to sit patiently and wonder if today was the day someone would come to take him to his trial. Undoubtedly the Hyuugas of the Main House would be there basking in his disgrace and anxiously awaiting the sentence.
At every passing second he wished he knew where Neji was. He hoped Hiashi had taken him to the Nara Forest realizing it was the safest place for him, but the truth was, he had no idea. He had completely lost control of the situation, going from having all the cards in his favor, to glimpse only one possible outcome for their story. In which Neji died at the hands of his clan and he remained in prison forever, knowing he himself was responsible for all of it. More than once he had to wipe angrily at the tears of frustration that persisted in running down his cheeks. He wanted to hit himself. And he did, a couple of times.
The only thing he could do was wait. Occasionally he looked at Hisao lying a couple of cells to the right. The man was still unconscious (or pretending to be). That was how intense the beating Shikamaru had given him had been. He remembered how good it had felt to unleash his fury against him. Back then he had completely dominated the situation, and the sense of power and revenge had been almost intoxicating. Quite the opposite of what he felt now. How quickly the tides turn.
Eventually he heard footsteps in the corridor approaching his cell. He just sat there, unable to get up to face his inevitable fate. Seconds later his parents appeared in front of him, and shortly after, Shizune. She opened the cell door so that everyone could enter. Two shinobi he didn't know remained outside. They were undoubtedly there to escort him to the trial as the prisoner he was.
"It's time." Shizune said in a weak and emotion filled voice. Her words sounded like a shackle closing in Shikamaru's mind. "The court awaits. The Hokage will not be present. She still hasn't returned from the mission. I am sure they will defeat the ambassador, but we will not have her support at the trial."
That was even worse. He had not only ruined his own plan, but he had lost the opportunity to bring closure to the mission that he had dedicated the last few years of his life to. He felt what little energy he had left escaping from his body.
"She couldn't do anything anyway," Shikaku said in a dry, indifferent tone, referring to the Hokage. "The Hyuugas will ask for the highest penalty that is applicable."
Yoshino watched him with a frown. "If you are not going to help, it's best to not say anything." She then walked over to Shikamaru and put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on son. We are with you. Forever."
That didn't make him feel better. He didn't want to see his mother's face upon hearing that he would be in prison for the rest of his life for murdering a Konoha shinobi. But he couldn't do anything to change that either. He stood up slowly, his legs so weak it was incredible they could support him.
They left the cell and started down the corridor. Shizune was leading. Shikamaru and the two guards who walked beside him followed her. At the back were his parents.
When they entered the courtroom he discovered that the room already held a large number of people. A huge group of men from the Main House occupied the front rows. They had chosen the best place to appreciate the show and looked at him smiling maliciously. Shikamaru couldn't bear to see the pleasure of having defeated him on their faces, so he looked away. Among the rest of the attendees were some of his friends. Choji, Ino, Kiba, and even Asuma. They all looked at him with deep sadness in their gazes. There was no sign of the others. Shikamaru hoped they were with Neji, protecting him. He finally saw Hiashi between the expectant faces. He didn't look happy like the rest of his clan. On the contrary, he seemed as hurt as his mother and his friends. Shikamaru knew the man could not intervene on his behalf at the trial, even though he was the head of the clan. The crime he had committed was simply too horrible for anyone to save him.
Yoshino and Shikaku joined the rest of the observers, while Shizune and the two guards escorted Shikamaru to the defendant's table facing the front. He had never imagined that he would one day be here, in the place destined for criminals and traitors to their own village. He climbed the small step feeling that his feet had Lee's weights attached to them. Shizune withdrew, but the guards remained at their posts.
Low murmurs rose throughout the room. Shikamaru only managed to decipher some of them, such as "he looks too young to be a murderer", or "he doesn't seem threatening," but his mind was too cloudy to really take any of it in. Plus he didn't want to, so he lowered his head and tried to block it all out.
Shortly afterwards he heard a voice announcing the entrance of the Council. The three people who would determine his fate entered the room: Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane and Danzō Shimura. They settled into their seats facing Shikamaru and the crowd, starting the session.
Mitokado spoke first. "We are here to determine a sentence for Nara Shikamaru, accused of murdering Hyuuga Hado, member of the Konoha Shinobi Legion. To begin, we give the floor to the delegate from the Hyuuga clan council."
One of the Main House men in the front seats stood up and walked to the center of the room. As he passed Shikamaru he gave him a brief look of contempt, mixed with a smile of satisfaction. Then he stood very straight to address the Council.
"The reason that brings us here is painful." He paused. "It is difficult for me to speak of it." His face projected an emotion Shikamaru knew didn't really feel. "We are all shocked by this unthinkable act of violence. At the same time we are overcome by grief at the loss of our friend and comrade Hado."
Shikamaru couldn't help but think of all the unjust deaths that they themselves had caused, counting not only those of the Branch House Members but also the inhabitants of the land of Tea. He clenched his fists to control his anger. "But the real damage has fallen over his family. His beloved wife and his adored son, from whom such an important person was senselessly stolen, simply for exercising his property rights."
Shikamaru had to close his eyes and take a calming breath. People are not property, you son of a bitch! "The rest of the Hyuuga clan wishes to express that we join them in their pain and grief at this unspeakable loss. That is why we have come to the conclusion that it should be his wife who decides what sentence we ask for with approval of the Council, since it is the only comfort we can grant her."
A fragile woman with blond hair entered the room, holding a handkerchief to her face and struggling to hold back tears. Shizune was wrapping an arm around her shoulders, trying to comfort her and helping her walk. She looked like she would collapse at any moment. Shikamaru felt a knot in his stomach. She is going to ask for the death penalty. That's why they want her to choose the sentence, because a dead man's wife would never forgive the murderer of her husband and father of her child. The worst part was that they would be seen as compassionate and not as the evil bastards they actually were. It had been a clever move. A chill ran down his spine.
The voice of reason rose inside his head. Capital punishment is reserved for traitors of the village. The council will not approve it.
It sounded convincing, but not quite. I murdered a Konoha shinobi. Doesn't that make me a traitor?
The voice of reason didn't answer.
The Hyuuga's delegate went back to his seat, flashing Shikamaru a self-satisfied look as he passed by him. Hado's wife took her place, still trying to control her sobbing. Shikamaru couldn't even look at her face. Knowing that he was the cause of her pain gnawed at his conscience. He stared at his feet in shame.
The entire audience waited for the woman to calm down and be able to speak. When she finally did, her voice cracked. "My husband was a great man. Kind, gentle, loving, a protector of his family..." She paused to contain a sob and pressed her handkerchief tightly against her face. Soon after she continued in a more stable tone, but there was something different in it.
"Or that's how he used to be, until he was accepted into the Hyuuga council. At that moment he changed. He became cold, strange. Sometimes I didn't even recognize him." Shikamaru looked up in surprise and found that she was shaking from head to toe.
She looked towards the jury, but continually cast fearful glances at the Hyuugas. She seemed more terrified than anguished. In the meantime, the Hyuugas exchanged alarmed glances with each other. "Power corrupted him, and his acts? I saw him horribly mistreat young children just for being members of the secondary branch. He tortured them in such hideous ways that I can't even begin to describe them. I begged him to stop, but he was convinced that they were inferior. I thought about reporting his abuse of power, but I was afraid for my son. I have a child who is only two years old. Shortly after he was born Hado began to pressure me to have another one, but I refused. I knew the kind of life they would have and the mistreatment they would have to face for being the second child of a Hyuuga."
She closed her eyes and paused for a moment, gathering strength to continue. Shikamaru was gaping. "When I heard that he was dead my heart broke, but at the same time I felt… liberated." A stream of tears began to trickle down her face, and this time she didn't try to stop it. "I'm sorry, I know what I'm saying is terrible, but along with the pain of losing him also came the relief of knowing that I would not be forced into having another child. And when I heard about the situation in which he died." She turned to look at Shikamaru. There was no resentment in her eyes, only a deep sorrow. "You were trying to protect your friend, weren't you? I understand. I loved my husband more than anyone else in the world, but he was no longer the man I knew. He became someone capable of attempting to take the life of a poor, innocent boy. I cannot defend an act like that." She lowered her head for a moment and took a deep breath, looking like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
She straightened up again and looked at the Council. "I appreciate that I have been given the opportunity of choosing the sentence, but I will not press charges. Let this boy go free. His only mistake was saving the life of a loved one." Shikamaru heard murmurs from the observers. He wanted to turn around to look at people's reaction, especially the Hyuuga Clan members, but he stood his ground. Things had taken an unexpected turn. Before finishing her statement, the woman added one last thing. "I want to ask the Council for asylum and protection. Please, I fear for my life and that of my son, now more than ever. They…" She didn't dare look back again. Her last words were just a whisper. "They are monsters." She had started to tremble again.
The atmosphere in the room was one of complete amazement. The members of the Council exchanged glances of doubt. Hado's wife's testimony had been heartbreaking and could not be ignored. The murmurs of the spectators became more and more audible. Finally Mitokado stood up and called for order. Silence returned.
"We appreciate your bravery," he said to the woman who was watching him imploringly. "Protection will be provided for you. As for the sentence? Given this testimony we will need to deliberate. We will recess until the Council has made a decision." The three then stood and filed out of the room.
The room exploded into a cacophony of sound, but nothing specific reached Shikamaru's ears. He waited. Stunned. His brain going a mile a minute. One question after another after another racing through his thoughts.
As his mind raced, time passed. He had no idea how much. The room started to calm down. Suddenly the opening of doors broke through the murmurs of the crowd.
As they returned to their seats Elder Mitokado spoke. "Given what has been stated today, it has been decided the accused is to be released without prejudice." He looked at Shikamaru, "You are free to go young man."
Shikamaru felt his soul abruptly returning to his body. He turned partially to look at the crowd. Hiashi looked as surprised as he was. His mother wept with relief, and his friends cheered. The Hyuugas glared at him with open hatred. It seemed that they wanted to object, but they felt exposed by the woman's testimony. The rest of those present surreptitiously watched them suspiciously and whispered.
"As for the dubious behavior of the Hyuuga clan? An investigation will be conducted," Mitokado continued. "This is one of the oldest clans in Konoha, and its reputation precedes it. We trust that the events described today have been perpetrated solely by the deceased and do not represent the rest of the clan. The session is over."
Shikamaru stood motionless. He felt glued in place at the defendant's table. Shizune approached Hado's wife and escorted her out of the room. That woman's testimony had saved him. That poor woman who had seen her husband and his henchmen commit heinous acts, and had never dared to speak out for fear of being punished. She had saved his life. That turn of events, and the fact that there had been so many people present at the trial to hear the woman's statement, not only saved Shikamaru from going back to prison. It also put him back in the game. His heart began to beat rapidly. He still had a chance to save Neji.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when a hand touched his arm. He looked to the right and saw Ino watching him with a relieved smile. Next to her were Choji, Kiba, Asuma, his parents, and Hiashi.
"You're one lucky son of a bitch my friend," Kiba commented with a laugh.
Shikamaru was still stunned and speechless. He didn't have to say anything though, because his mother jumped on him and hugged him tightly. Over her shoulder he saw the group of Hyuugas trying to leave the room without drawing too much attention. But this proved impossible, because people kept turning to look at them disapprovingly, whispering.
What had happened that day would draw the ire of the entire clan, and that was exactly what Shikamaru wanted: to provoke them. So he could lead them, fuming, straight into his trap.
When his mother stopped hugging him (after almost five minutes of squeezing him in her arms) the whole group left the room. His father disappeared shortly after, probably determined to go out for a drink. The others stayed next to him. They talked about how surprising the testimony of Hado's wife had been, and that because of her the Council had no choice but to release him. When the conversation calmed down a bit Shikamaru dared to ask the question that he had been asking himself in his mind since he had been led to his cell.
"Where is Neji?"
It was Hiashi who answered. "He is in the Nara forest. Some of your friends are with him." The group of Hyuugas passed near them, glaring at Shikamaru and the clan leader with cold lavender eyes. Hiashi returned their glares with equal ire. "We should join them. The Hyuuga clan will not ignore what has happened here today."
They headed towards the Nara forest. A while after passing the first trees they came to the house in the clearing. There waited the rest of his friends, all except Naruto, who was still on the mission with the Hokage. Hanae and her little brother were there as well. Shikamaru realized that he would have to explain what those children were doing there, although they had probably already explained it themselves.
A collective gasp came over those gathered when they saw Shikamaru cross the threshold healthy and free, followed by a cheer. But Shikamaru could only think that Neji was nowhere to be seen. So where was he?
Hinata seemed to read his mind. "Neji is resting in your room. He was extremely weak after the attack, but he will be very happy to see you."
Shikamaru only managed to nod absently. He looked towards the room and fought the urge to simply barge in to see for himself that he was really okay.
Yoshino took care of telling those present what had happened at the trial. Despite feeling happy that Shikamaru was free, everyone seemed concerned about the woman's testimony. They were finally becoming aware of the atrocities that the Hyuuga clan had committed behind the backs of the entire village for so many years.
"What's going to happen now?" Asked Tenten, who was sitting on the tatami next to Lee.
"I do not know," Hiashi replied. "But I fear all Branch House Members are in danger now. The clan may try to silence them so that they do not testify against them." Hearing these words Hanae hugged her brother tightly, and the kid snuggled against her, hiding his face in fear. "You should be wary too," Hiashi added, turning to Shikamaru. "It would be wise to stay here until the Hokage returns. She will know what to do."
Yoshino stated that she fully agreed with those words. Shikamaru nodded, promising that he would stay in the forest, even though he knew he wouldn't. He needed to take advantage of the Hyuuga clan's angry state to make his move, though it was most likely that their hatred for him would not diminish over time. Anyway, he had already put off his plan too long and was determined to see it through to the end as soon as possible.
The adults left, but everyone else stayed. They spoke of the Hyuuga clan, the land of Tea, and many other things that Shikamaru pretended to hear, when in fact he was immersed in his thoughts.
Suddenly the room was silent. Upon noticing it, Shikamaru looked around at his friends and discovered they were all staring at the door to his room. He followed their gazes and saw Neji in the doorway. He had woken up, and he was looking at Shikamaru enigmatically. His skin was paler than ever. On his forehead, instead of his Hitai-ate, he was wearing a white bandage. Underneath, the Cursed Seal's wound must still be open.
The silence dragged on until it became unbearable to everyone in the room.
"You two probably need to talk," Tenten said, standing up. "We will be outside." She gestured for the others to follow her. They all nodded and walked out the door into the clearing without complaint.
Neji approached slowly, maintaining that hard to interpret countenance. Was he angry? Probably, considering Shikamaru had placed a seal on him without his consent. But that seal had saved his life. Had Neji asked about the seal Shikamaru would have pointed that out. But the Hyuuga didn't ask. When he spoke his voice was soft and there was no trace of anger in it.
"How are you?"
Shikamaru looked down for a moment. He thought of the person he had killed to protect Neji just after the Hyuuga told him he would end up killing someone. He thought about the nights he spent in prison, and how close he had come to complete ruination of the rest of his life. "Honestly, better than I expected to be a few hours ago. You?". He looked back at Neji and paused at the bandage that covered his forehead. That was enough to relive the terror he had experienced at seeing the blood run down his face as the Cursed Seal activated three nights ago. Death had passed him very close.
Neji seemed to read his thoughts. He put his hands to his head and took off the bandage. Beneath it was a scar shaped like the Cursed Seal, but it was almost completely closed. "I am okay," he replied.
Shikamaru had expected to see a very fresh wound. "It healed fast."
Neji nodded. "Sakura is very good." A new silence filled the room. It was evident that the Hyuuga had many questions and was looking for the correct way to ask them. "When did you put that seal on me?"
For the first time in a long time Shikamaru answered honestly, though without giving details. "Years ago."
Neji studied his face and his expression remained indecipherable. "What about Hanae and Hoshi?"
"I approached them to learn more about the Hyuuga clan. When the Branch House Members disappeared they got scared, so I told them to hide here."
Neji frowned slightly. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Shikamaru returned a crooked smile, although there was no trace of humor in it. "You know why. You didn't want me to intervene, and you would have tried to stop me."
Now the Hyuuga's gaze was a mixture of helplessness and frustration. "Of course I would have. What you did was insane. The Hyuuga clan is furious."
"I know," Shikamaru admitted. "But I couldn't help it. I was scared. I was so afraid for you... I'm sorry."
That seemed to soften Neji. He moved a little closer. "I don't like you doing things against my wishes and hiding them from me, but the truth is that if you hadn't, I would not be here now." They both wanted to smile, but couldn't. They had escaped a perilous situation, relativity unscathed, all things considered. The panorama still remained bleak. "I have asked you this before, but I will do it one more time. I need you to promise me that you will not continue. Next time it may not end so fortuitously."
Shikamaru held his worried gaze. He decided to be honest one more time. "You know I can't promise that." He took Neji's hand in his, feeling his cold skin between his fingers. "If they try to hurt you, I will face them. I will do everything within my power to keep you safe."
There was the lie, because he was going to provoke the Hyuuga clan to try to get Neji back. But he couldn't tell him that. He had to let everyone think that he was waiting for the Hokage's return to decide how to act, when in reality he was just waiting for the opportunity to get out of there.
Neji seemed to realize he wouldn't be able to change the Naras mind. He just closed his eyes and hugged him. Shikamaru hugged him too. Soon you will be free, he thought. I promise.
"One more thing," the Hyuuga said, pulling back a bit to look into his eyes. "What are all those white painted objects in your bedroom closet?"
Shikamaru was stunned. He had forgotten that he had kept all the objects he used during his experiments with Hoshi's Byakugan. He parted his lips, thinking of an excuse, when the door opened. Ino peeked through the slit.
"Oh, I see everything is fine between you guys," she said smiling. She opened the door wide so that everyone could come back inside. Neji let him go, but gave him one last suspicious look. Shikamaru relaxed. Saved by Ino. He would have to buy her a gift.
They met again with their friends. Everyone went out of their way to distract them, talking nonsense to keep their spirits as light as possible. "This clearing looks familiar, but I don't remember this house," Kiba commented. "It's where we smoked those weird herbs that time, right?" He approached Shikamaru with a knowing attitude and a mischievous smile. "By the way, you wouldn't have more of that would you?"
Shikamaru tried to appear calm, responding from time to time to what his friends said. Neji was quiet most of the time. Knowing him, he must have felt very uncomfortable having so many people guarding him. It surely made him feel defenseless, which he detested.
Those who had returned to the village to see how things were going reported what they had seen. Apparently there had been quite a commotion in the aftermath of Shikamaru's trial. The rumor that reprehensible things were happening within the Hyuuga clan had spread like wildfire. An investigation supposedly would be launched to corroborate this, during which an attempt would also be made to determine if there were other Hyuugas involved in Hisao's betrayal, but nothing had yet been publicly declared on the matter. Shikamaru was not surprised. The Council must be trying to delay things, for despite the evidence, they still had to protect the clan for fear that the secret about Itachi's mission would be revealed. It was despicable, but expected.
He tried countless times to get away from his friends with the excuse of taking a walk in the forest, but they always insisted on accompanying him. He couldn't get away from them for a second. He needed to be alone to think, to put his thoughts in order, and his plan into action. When evening came he locked himself in the bathroom under the pretense of taking a bath. He turned on the shower, but only to keep up the ruse.
He looked at himself in the mirror, holding tightly to the sink. It was time. It was ridiculous to keep waiting. He had to go in search of the Hyuugas to lure them into the forest, making sure that Neji's grandfather came with them. He was the key to success.
He took the green vest from his uniform and placed inside it some white painted protectors, which he had hidden between a couple of towels so that no one would notice. It was essential to be prepared to face the Hyuuga clan, as his plan could not be carried out if they left him incapacitated before he could begin. The Gentle Fist was not all the gentle after all. Once ready he carefully opened the window and slid out, knowing that he had to get away quickly. Soon his friends would begin to suspect that his shower was taking too long.
He crept through the forest, leaving the clearing behind. He approached the tree line that separated the Nara territory from the rest of the village and crossed it. His plan to attract the Hyuugas was pretty simple: he would simply walk around, waiting for them to come to him. He was sure that the entire Main House would be on the lookout, waiting for him or Neji to come out of the forest so they could attack them. After all, it was because of them that the clan's reputation was now being questioned.
He didn't have to wait long. As soon as he left the forest, the Hyuugas immediately identified him with their Byakugans. It happened more or less as Shikamaru had imagined: from one moment he was fine, the next he felt a piercing pain in the left side of his body, product of a direct blow from the Gentle Fist. Thank Kami for the protectors he wore. The impact threw him sideways and he fell flat on the ground. Two pairs of strong hands grabbed his clothing, lifted him from the ground, turned him around, and slammed him into a tree by the side of the road.
Ignoring the pain, Shikamaru looked at his attackers. Four Hyuugas were staring at him with immeasurable contempt. Two of them were holding him tight against the tree.
"Insolent child," one of them said between clenched teeth. He seemed to growl. "Because of you people are talking. There are rumors about the clan running throughout the village, and you are the cause."
Shikamaru opened his mouth to reply, but one of his captors punched him. He felt his lip split and a trickle of hot blood began to run down his chin. Luckily there had been no chakra in that hit, or his jaw would now be broken. He licked his lips and spat out some blood. "What that woman said in court had nothing to do with me." Another punch, this time to his stomach, it nearly knocked the air out of him.
"You are a filthy meddlesome little child. You should not have got in the way of our business."
Shikamaru remained coldly calm. "If I'm such a bother to you, why don't you get rid of me now?"
The Hyuugas bared their teeth like wild beasts. Their eyes blazed with the Byakugan and the hatred they felt for him. "You know that would compromise us even more. Now we are all suspects, and we have you to thank for it." A new blow, on the other side of his face. A second wound opened on one of Shikamaru's cheekbones, but he was not intimidated. "Give us the boy and we will let you go. We may not be allowed to kill you, but we can make you wish we would."
He watched them defiantly. "If you want him you will have to get him yourself. But I remind you that the Nara forest is a fortress. And you are just pathetic little lambs. Only the clan leader would even have a chance."
The Hyuugas held him tighter. "We all know perfectly well where Hiashi's loyalties lie in this situation."
Shikamaru spat out some more blood and faced them again. "Please. Don't underestimate me. You think I don't know Hiashi is just an empty figurehead within the clan? The true leader is Hajime."
"You are incredibly petulant. Do you honestly think you can face Hajime?"
Shikamaru smirked arrogantly. "Probably not, but if you force me, I will. If you want Neji you will have to tell that damn old man to get off his pedestal and come get him, or does he make you do all his dirty work?"
The punch to his stomach was repeated and this time Shikamaru felt all the air escaping from his lungs. He would have fallen if the Hyuugas hadn't been holding him rigidly against the tree. "You have no idea what you are saying. If Hajime lays a finger on you, your days of causing problems will be over."
Shikamaru gasped, trying to catch his breath to answer. "I bet… he's just as stupid… as you are…"
A blow to his temple made him see the stars. Everything went white for a second, and he feared that the last punch might cause a concussion. Before regaining his sight he heard the warning words of one of the Hyuugas.
"Someone is coming. We must disperse." They dropped Shikamaru to the ground. He collapsed helplessly. Before they left Shikamaru received one last kick in the ribs. "You don't know what's waiting for you, brat."
They sped off. As they walked away Shikamaru heard other footsteps rapidly approaching. He recognized Shino and Kiba's voices calling out to him.
"What the hell, man?! You weren't supposed to leave the forest alone!"
They picked him up and helped him stand. Shikamaru stammered, still stunned from the blows. "I just wanted to take a walk to clear my mind..." His whole body ached, but that was nothing. If he hadn't put on the protectors he would have several broken ribs.
His friends helped him return to the forest. When they entered the house from the clearing, everyone present gasped and ran towards them.
"What happened?!"
"Who did this?!"
"It was a group of Hyuugas," Shino explained. "We barely managed to see them when they fled."
Ino and Sakura approached to try to tend to his wounds, but Shikamaru backed away from them. He had to prepare and wait for the Hyuugas to come for Neji, if they were as dumb as he thought. There was no time to lose. The confrontation could happen at any time.
His mind stopped racing for a second when he saw Neji's face. He was looking at him in horror. His eyes were fixed on his open wounds and he seemed on the verge of collapse. But suddenly he frowned and clenched his fists tightly. "That's enough," he said in a firm voice. He crossed the room and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Asked Lee.
"I'm going to face them."
Tenten ran to him and grabbed his arm. "But they will kill you!"
"I don't care!" Neji replied, freeing himself from his friend's hands. "If I don't go with them, all the people who try to protect me will be in danger. It is me who they want." He walked back to the door.
"STOP!" Shikamaru yelled, so loud that Neji froze and turned to look at him. "Can't you see that's what they want you to do? They think we are stupid. That just by hurting me a little they will get you to go to them."
Neji walked towards him. His lips vibrated with tension. "But look at you! They could have killed you!"
Shikamaru wiped the blood dripping from his mouth with the back of his sleeve. "Of course not. I absolutely outsmart those assholes. They have no idea who they are dealing with." The degree of loathing he felt for the Hyuuga clan washed over him, and he let it show. "And I'm going to fucking show them."
Terrified by his words, Neji shook his head. "No," he implored. His eyes turned glassy. "I want you to stop. I don't want to be the reason for your death." He looked at the rest of those present for some support. "Please help me."
Shikamaru didn't wait for anyone to intervene. He moved a little closer to Neji and looked into his eyes seriously, not caring that there were other people listening. "Look, I'm sorry, but no matter what you say, I won't stop. As long as I live, they won't touch you."
His words were blunt. Neji held his gaze, but Shikamaru's determination was absolute. They spoke wordlessly for a fraction of a second. He tried to convey without saying anything how much he cared for him, and Neji seemed to understand. He finally sighed, exhausted and lowered his shoulders in a defeated attitude.
"We won't let you either, Neji!" Lee exclaimed. The others seconded him. Shikamaru smiled at his friends. "See?" He said to Neji. "We're all together in this."
Much to his regret, the Hyuuga could not do more than resign himself.
They spent a long time talking about what might happen next. Shikamaru explained he doubted the Hyuugas would try to enter the forest to capture Neji (though he was actually counting on that) so it would be best to just keep waiting for the Hokage to return. No one seemed to have a better idea, but they kept debating.
Until, after much waiting, it finally arrived. The beginning of the end. The final stage.
From that moment on, events unfolded at breakneck speed. The first indication that the fight had begun was the disturbed cries of the birds. They all looked at each other in surprise, but the only one who understood its meaning was Shikamaru. They said "Danger. The enemy is here."
Without hesitation or explanation, Shikamaru covered his body with a protective layer of chakra which allowed him to withstand natural energy without damaging himself. As soon as he came into contact with the force of the forest he could feel every inch of the terrain on his skin, and all the people who moved within it.
A group of around fifty people was trying to penetrate the Nara territory. It had to be the Hyuugas. Shikamaru hadn't expected them to respond so quickly to his provocation. The outcome of the trial must have pissed them off way more than he predicted. Or maybe they just wanted to act before the Hokage returned.
In any case, the Nara Forest could sense the intentions of outsiders. In another situation, it would have blocked their way, but Shikamaru asked it to let them pass. The union he could establish with the forest thanks to natural energy created a kind of dialogue between him and all the plants and creatures that inhabited it so he could share his consciousness with them, and vice versa. He only had to suggest or ask, and if the forest agreed, it would concede. And so it did, trusting in the assurance that Shikamaru had regarding his plan. He felt the Hyuugas entering Nara territory.
Let them use their Byakugans, he implored.
He felt some resistance to that request. The forest didn't want to give its enemies such an advantage. Shikamaru insisted. It is necessary to help Neji. Otherwise the plan will not work. After a few moments of uncertainty the forest acquiesced.
Some of his friends asked what was going on. "I don't know," Shikamaru lied. "Something strange is happening in the forest. I better alert the clan." He approached the door. "You guys stay here."
"But you can't go alone!" Ino exclaimed.
"I won't leave the Nara territory, but I have to notify my clan right now. They will know what to do. Please stay here."
No one seemed convinced, but Shikamaru didn't give them time to react. He hurried out the door and into the woods. Of course he had no intention of alerting his clan, it was just an excuse to get out of there. He ran to meet the Hyuugas, who continued to advance through the trees.
He concentrated on summoning all the creatures in the forest. The message was very clear. They are coming for Neji. They must be stopped. The forest was a being unto itself. It was capable of loving and hating, of recognizing enemies and friends, and it loved Neji as much as he did. Perhaps also because it had absorbed part of Shikamaru's feelings. As he ran, birds, small rodents, snakes and insects joined him. Finally came the deer. Natural energy glowed with an emerald shine on their fur and antlers. Their usually dark eyes now flashed with green light. They moved through the forest with him, like an army ready for battle.
When they were a few meters from the group of Hyuugas, Shikamaru stopped to wait. All the creatures waited behind him, crouched among the tall grasses and hidden under the shadows of the trees. Natural energy ran through them, uniting them and growing stronger in the face of threat. They were ready.
An old but strong face appeared among the trees. Shikamaru had never seen him, but there was no doubt it was Hajime. He was very much like Hiashi, but his long hair was completely white. He looked at Shikamaru with unrestrained scorn. Other Hyuugas emerged from the bushes and stood next to him.
"Come on in," the young Nara said calmly. "I've been waiting for you."
Hajime stepped forward with a frown. "You are the insolent child who dared to steal our clan's property. You and Hiashi will pay dearly for your actions."
Shikamaru snorted wryly. "Hiashi doesn't know shit. This war doesn't involve him. This was ALL me you sanctimonious bastard."
"What war?" Hajime asked, refusing to let Shikamaru intimidate him. "Do you want a confrontation between the Nara and the Hyuuga clans? Just who do you think you are child?"
"My clan has no more to do with this than Hiashi does. They know nothing." Shikamaru replied, and smiled confidently. "The war is between you." He gestured to the Main House Members that had assembled. "And me." He bowed with a flourish.
Laughter emerged from behind Hajime. The old man waited for it to fade. "Do you honestly believe you can stand against the oldest clan in Konoha by yourself?"
"To be honest, I have no idea. But here you are, so I have no choice."
Hajime held his gaze, trying to figure out what he was up to. He certainly was smarter than the other Hyuugas, and he could smell a trap. But he was also extremely arrogant and confident. "Do you not see how futile your efforts will be?"
Shikamaru pretended to think. "Well, you guys have already killed Kami knows how many Branch House Members. More than I could count. So yes, the odds are in your favor. But I do have ONE in my column, right?" He was referring to Hado. He was not proud of having killed the man, but he could use it to further infuriate his enemies. He hadn't meant to kill him. But what happened happened, and he would use anything he had to his advantage.
It had the desired effect. At least on most of them.
The Hyuugas yelled threats and cursed him, but Hajime didn't flinch. "Give us the boy," he ordered.
Shikamaru smiled. "Come and take him."
And they did. The members of the Main House approached with Neji's grandfather leading the way, but they didn't get very far. Lianas descended from the tree branches and wrapped themselves around their arms, slowing their advance considerably. Some managed to cut through the thick ivy fibers and break free, but it was not without great effort. They were immediately attacked by squirrels and birds which pecked and scratched with no mercy. Insects swooped down on every inch of bare skin. There were flashes of the Gentle Fist left and right. Despite that, the animals kept appearing. Shikamaru was about to order the deer to join the battle when he suddenly sensed someone approaching. He turned around, thinking that he had been too focused on the battle and had not noticed that a Hyuuga had managed to get behind him. The face that emerged from the bushes was not that of an enemy, but that of his mother.
She was staring at the confrontation with wide eyes and a puzzled grin on her lips. "What's going on here?!"
Shikamaru approached her. He hadn't counted on her meddling. If she tried to stop him he would have to knock her out, and he didn't want to hit his mother. The woman grabbed him by the uniform to pull him closer, examining the wounds on her son's face. He held on to her hands and stared at her. "They're coming for Neji!". He hoped that would worry her enough to let him continue. The woman's eyes were fixed on him, so wide they looked as if they were going to come out of their sockets. Then she looked over his shoulder at the Hyuugas, and frowned. Her eyes shone with rage, and Shikamaru saw in them the instinct of maternal protection with which she sometimes looked at him.
She turned away from her son and approached the battle. "Go! Keep him safe!"
The deer still waiting in the vegetation came up to her and sniffed her hands. His mother didn't seem surprised by the gesture, but she did notice the green glow on their bodies. Shikamaru approached her, walking among the deer. "What are you going to do? Those are Hyuugas mother!"
She looked at him and smiled confidently. "I'll stay here and make sure they don't pass. You go to Neji."
Without saying more, she raised her hand and pointed forward. The deer roared, standing on their hind legs and preparing to attack. Then lunged at the Hyuugas without mercy.
Shikamaru was gaping. Could his mother also handle natural energy? No, she wasn't surrounded by the emerald glow. So why did the animals obey her?
He knew that all Naras had a special bond with the forest. They protected each other. His mother was not a Nara, but she had taken care of the packs since she married his father, as did all members of the clan. She had even assumed all the obligations that corresponded to Shikaku. The forest had admitted her as one of their own, and it trusted her too.
"What are you waiting for?!" She yelled at Shikamaru when she saw that he remained in his place. He snapped out of his reverie, remembering that he didn't have time to be distracted. If his mother was willing to help him protect Neji, the better for his plan. He nodded and turned around. Now he had to direct Hajime to the site of the trap.
The man continued to fight the animals, which gored, kicked and charged. Shikamaru gave the order to let him pass. Nothing happened. The forest seemed to deny his request. He had to concentrate hard to transmit the idea that this was fundamental to help Neji. Finally the lianas stopped trying to grab him and the animals allowed him to move forward, offering minimal resistance.
"Come on, you useless idiots!" Hajime yelled, addressing the other Hyuugas.
He slipped through the trees to the right, escaping the battle zone and into the thicket. He must have already identified where Neji was, because he advanced straight towards the house in the clearing. Shikamaru followed him closely, darting between the bushes. The forest kept him covered with its mantle of natural energy, preventing him from being visible to the Byakugan. The moment was drawing near. The final stage was imminent. He focused his thoughts for Suimmin to hear him. It's your turn, buddy.
Neji was pacing in circles around the room. He couldn't keep still. The pressure was driving him crazy. Sounds were coming from the forest, but it was impossible to tell if they belonged to a confrontation. His friends were also wandering impatiently, staring out the windows, waiting for Shikamaru to return with news.
Why had they allowed him to go out alone? He could be attacked. Neji couldn't bear to see him hurt again because of him. But the Nara had slipped away. Even though they ran after him, he was out of sight as soon as he walked out the door.
He was still hiding things, Neji was sure he hadn't told him the whole truth, and thinking about what else he had been up to gave him chills. The question "how far would Shikamaru go?" still had no answer. Until that moment he believed that killing someone and almost being locked up for life was the limit, but now he had doubts.
The hoarse sound of an animal came from the clearing. It was as if a deer was screaming. They all ran to the door and out. Suimmin was standing in the middle of the clearing, yelling and bucking in circles. The friends looked at each other confused.
Neji left the house and approached the animal, followed by the others. He tried to reassure him, stroking him and speaking sweet words. As soon as he touched his fur with his fingers, Suimmin calmed down and brought his snout closer to Neji to lick him affectionately. What had all that fuss been? He had no traces of having been attacked. Was Shikamaru being attacked and was he trying to warn them?
He didn't have time to develop the idea. A flock of birds of different sizes and colors broke away from the trees surrounding the clearing and darted toward them. There were several hundred, or perhaps several thousand. Neji thought he heard his friends screaming, but he couldn't hear them over the screeching of birds that pierced his ears. He couldn't see them either. The flock was too dense. He reached for Suimmin to cling to him, but what happened next left him dumbfounded. The animal stood on his hind legs and struck Neji in the center of the chest with its front hooves. He fell back, not understanding why that animal he was so fond of decided to attack him without warning. He tried to get up, but thick roots emerged from the dirt, seizing his ankles and wrists, chaining him to the ground. In the meantime the dense cloud of birds continued to spin at breakneck speed, keeping him separated from his friends. He didn't understand what was happening. He didn't know if the forest was being manipulated by an enemy, or if it had simply decided to stop considering them friends. He screamed expecting someone would hear him, and hoping that Shikamaru was safe.
He kept running after Hajime. His body was charged with adrenaline. He felt the movements of everything that happened in the forest on his skin and inside his mind: Suimmin had done his job, leading everyone out of the house. Shikamaru kept the birds fluttering around his friends to keep them separate from Neji, whom he held by means of underground roots against the ground. The pieces were all in position, now he just had to lead his pawn to do its job.
Suddenly a very intense source of energy burst into the Nara territory, breaking his concentration a bit. Someone new had entered the forest. Someone extremely powerful, who went straight against the Hyuugas that still fought against the deer led by his mother. Shikamaru kept running, wondering if he should turn around to deal with the unexpected visitor. But he couldn't lose sight of Hajime. If he did, Neji's life would be in great danger.
The stranger fought very briefly with the Hyuugas, defeating them all. Shikamaru was afraid they might have been seriously injured. After all, he didn't want to kill them, just to hold them off for a while. The new presence put his entire plan at risk. Apparently the intruder was not an ally of the Hyuuga clan, but that didn't necessarily mean they were an ally to him. Shikamaru felt the mysterious person move away from the battle zone and quickly approach the clearing where Neji and the others were standing, hot on the heels of him and Hajime. The stranger flew several meters over them in just a few seconds. The speed at which they were moving was impressive, and Shikamaru still couldn't figure out who it was.
The new-comer passed them and rushed over to the clearing before he could make up his mind. He had to reach that person or they could dismantle the trap he had set for Hajime. He decided to let the old Hyuuga continue his advance alone and take a shortcut to reach the clearing sooner.
He stopped and took a couple of steps back. He then crouched in front of a tree and fumbled with his hands on the ground until he found the handle of a small trap door. He opened it and threw himself inside. He dropped down into one of the underground passageways that ran throughout the entirety of the Nara forest. He raced through the tunnels at top speed toward the clearing.
Things threatened to spiral out of control. The unknown invader had reached where Neji and the others were, and was now fighting the birds. Shikamaru felt the intruder taking down a large number of them with each blow. If he didn't stop them, all his planning, everything, would be for naught.
He ran to another trap door. He snapped it open and jumped out. He was now inside his house. Through the open door he saw the swirl of birds still charging at his friends, and a blurry orange stain running through it over and over.
Naruto.
FUCK FUCK FUCK, he thought as he watched him take down most of the birds. WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?!
If Naruto had returned it meant the mission to apprehend the ambassador was finished. He wondered fleetingly how it had ended, but he didn't have time to lose himself in those thoughts. He had to do something to control him. He summoned more birds to hold him back, but the boy continued to fight them tirelessly. Then Shikamaru noticed a bright orange glow surrounding Naruto, and he remembered what the Hokage had told him: he could handle natural energy as well, and was apparently much more skilled than him. His strength was amazing.
But this was not the time to ask those questions. He had to stop Naruto in any way possible. He tried to anchor him to the ground using roots like he had done with Neji, but the Uzumaki broke them easily. Meanwhile Hajime had almost reached the clearing. Shikamaru didn't know what to do, so he acted on impulse. Using natural energy he caused several trees to break off the ground and he quickly threw them towards Naruto, who was buried under them. I'm sorry, dude. Hope you don't get too hurt. The boy struggled to get out, but Shikamaru kept him trapped with all his might. It was not easy at all. And he supposed that Naruto must be weakened from the mission. In his best state he wouldn't have been able to hold him for a millisecond. He felt his own chakra beginning to drain.
But he would have to resist, because Hajime had just reached the clearing.
The man stared at the strange mob of birds for a moment, wondering what the hell was going on. Shikamaru ordered the birds to back off a bit, just enough for Neji to be exposed. Hajime looked at the boy suspiciously, realizing that this was indeed a trap.
But he didn't react fast enough. Shikamaru had already stepped behind him and formed the seal for the Shadow Possession Jutsu. A black thread stretched from under his feet to Hajime, snaking through the shadows cast by the treetops. In a second he had him under his power. He could no longer move at will.
However, the old Hyuuga laughed. The sound barely reached him below the screeching of the birds. "Please," he said, knowing that Shikamaru was behind his back. "Do you think I have never fought a Nara? That jutsu is regrettable. It will run out in 5 minutes, and then I'll tear you apart. You and your little friend." He said this looking at Neji, who was writhing on the ground in front of him trying to escape from the thick roots that were holding him down.
Shikamaru felt an electric wave as strong as lightning run through his skin. "That's okay," he replied. "That's more than enough time."
He made Hajime walk to where Neji was, but it turned out much more difficult than he expected. His mind and his body experienced the sensation of fragmenting. It was very hard to hold the Shadow Possession Jutsu while he continued to manipulate the birds so that his friends wouldn't intervene. But the really troublesome thing was doing it while he kept Naruto under control. The Uzumaki was still struggling to break free, and Shikamaru realized he couldn't hold him back for more than a few more seconds without his mind completely splitting and natural energy crushing him or something equally horrible. End game had arrived. He extended a hand forward. With the other one he began to form the seals for the final move.
Neji kept trying to get away from the roots that were holding him down, but he was getting nowhere. Suddenly the cloud of birds that floated around him drew back. He looked up to search for his friends, but what he saw chilled him with fear. His grandfather, Hajime Hyuuga, was standing in front of him. He was saying something, but Neji couldn't hear him due to the sounds of the birds. He was also smiling, and that was not a good sign. He fought to free himself but there was no use.
His grandfather started walking towards him. Neji struggled and struggled uselessly, watching helplessly as Hajime stopped in front of him and placed a hand on his forehead. The contact made his skin crawl. He was going to kill him, and there was no way to escape. He pulled uselessly against the roots. Why was the forest doing this to him? Why was that place he loved so much giving him up to his death like this? How had the Hyuuga clan managed to create all this chaos? And where was Shikamaru?
He looked at his grandfather's face, which was now screwed up in a scowl of ire. His cheeks were flushed red and he was yelling things that Neji couldn't understand. He watched as his other hand began to form the seals of a jutsu and felt a piercing pain on his forehead. He screamed, but soon everything turned to an impenetrable black.
Hajime cursed and uttered ruthless threats as he found himself unable to control what he was doing. He had understood what his enemy was trying to do from the first seal.
Meanwhile Shikamaru suffered brief spasms. His hands were shaking, making precision difficult. But not just because of the effort. It was because the moment he had been waiting for, the moment he had planned for years, had finally arrived. His heart was pounding. His eyes filled with tears. He was suddenly afraid of making a mistake. What if he skipped one of the seals? He had only one chance. But that was impossible, he had reviewed them millions of times, and they were perfectly stored in his memory. He took a deep breath to steady his pulse. You haven't come this far to ruin it. Naruto pressed against the trees that were holding him prisoner, and Shikamaru felt his grip on the situation crumble. Thick beads of sweat trickled down the back of his neck. He was about to lose control of everything. Hold on a little longer, just a few more seconds. He frowned and clenched his teeth to focus. Do it for Neji.
With the last of his strength he formed the last seal. A flash of white erupted between Hajime's hand and his grandson's forehead. Soon after, Neji collapsed on the ground. Shikamaru stared at them with wide eyes. His breath froze in his throat. Had it worked?
He couldn't find out. Naruto had managed to overcome the energy that kept him under control and shot back into the swirl of birds. Shikamaru looked at him, completely losing concentration. He no longer had the strength to continue supporting the natural energy, and his chakra had run out. He lost the connection with Hajime and with the forest. The Shadow Possession Jutsu vanished.
The old Hyuuga didn't miss the opportunity. He threw himself at Shikamaru screaming in rage and landed a powerful chakra-laden blow against his chest. The touch of the Gentle Fist sent the Nara flying backward. He collided with a tree trunk, hitting his head. The whole world disappeared.
And we're back! After -OMG seven months! I'm so sorry for the long wait.
Hope you guys like this chapter. I'm sure you will all be able to notice my editor's amazing work on the vocabulary and the fluidity of the narrative. So claps to Miranda Z! Thank you so much for your help and dedication.
I think the next chapter will be the last one. I can't believe this story is finally coming to an end. It was my first fic so I'm like totally emotional about it. I promise the final chapter will be out soon!
Thank you SO MUCH for reading! ^^