Neji opened his eyes. His entire body felt, off somehow. He was completely disoriented. Everything around him seemed to be spinning. He realized he was lying on the ground. His forehead was tingling. It took a bit of effort, but he was eventually able to sit up. He raised his hand to touch his forehead.
At that moment the image of his grandfather standing over him with blind hatred in his gaze materialized in his head. Suddenly, the last few minutes of his life came back into focus. He looked sideways, but the air was still littered with dust and debris. At least the birds had disappeared. What on earth had happened?
Hajime had been about to kill him, of that he was certain. But he didn't feel himself bleeding anywhere. Perhaps his grandfather had failed to activate the Curse Seal. Or maybe not. He was sure he had felt the pain. Am I dead?
He kept rubbing his forehead. It wouldn't stop tingling. Someone called out his name. Tenten, Lee and Hinata appeared from somewhere and knelt next to him. "Are you okay?" They asked almost at the same time. He looked at their concerned faces.
He didn't feel any pain, so he nodded. Apparently he was not dead, and it seemed as though he wasn't injured either. "What happened?"
"I think Shikamaru fought your grandfather," Tenten replied.
Neji's eyes widened in a panic. Had Shikamaru saved him from being killed with the Cursed Seal again? He frantically looked around and saw the rest of his friends gathered in a circle near the trees. Between them he could see Shikamaru's feet poking out. He was lying on the ground.
He sprang to his feet, but the sudden movement sent a wave of nausea rushing through him. He staggered. Lee quickly grabbed his arm to steady him. The tingling on his forehead continued. It was so intense he could almost feel it through his hand. He walked towards the others leaning on Lee for support. Hinata and Tenten followed them. Before arriving he saw the silhouette of an unconscious person a few meters away off to the side, and immediately recognized Hajime. For a moment he feared that Shikamaru had killed another Hyuuga to save him, this time his grandfather, but the man was breathing. Beside him stood Naruto, who was supposed to still be on the mission with the Hokage. He was covered in dirt and scratches. What the hell had happened?!
He approached the circle surrounding Shikamaru and the others made way for him. Ino and Sakura were next to him checking his vital signs. Neji saw his green vest had a black hole with a small bit of smoke rising from it as if it had been scorched. He immediately recognized the effect of the Gentle Fist in full power. Hajime had aimed straight for the heart. His blood ran cold. Such a blow was lethal. He knelt beside Shikamaru while still touching his own forehead, although the strange tingling was finally starting to fade.
"Is he okay?" He asked, dreading hearing the answer.
"He is unconscious from a blow to the head," Sakura replied. "But he doesn't seem hurt."
"It can't be," Neji continued. "He took a Gentle Fist at full strength straight to the heart."
Ino and Sakura exchanged doubting looks.
They proceeded to remove Shikamaru's vest and shirt to check on him, but Neji had already activated his Byakugan to see if he had any internal injuries. The forest was apparently allowing him to use it, because in a second he could see through all the layers of tissue. Indeed the most serious injury was the blow to the head, at least as far as he could see. Because for some reason Neji couldn't get a sharp image in some areas.
When Ino unzipped Shikamaru's vest they found the explanation. Simple protectors, like those usually used in battle, but white. More precisely a very specific pearly white, which reminded him of the incoherent collection of painted things that Shikamaru kept in his closet. Then a much more distant memory came to mind. A conversation he had had with the Nara in that same forest, a long time ago, while they contemplated an iridescent lake filled with dozens of radiant jellyfish. He had asked many questions about what it was like to see with the Byakugan, and Neji had explained that everything turned a slight white color. He understood that Shikamaru had used that information to design a shield against the Gentle Fist that Hajime couldn't see clearly, because the protectors were located exactly on his vital points. He had prepared himself to receive a fatal blow.
He deactivated his Byakugan. The tingling on his forehead was now almost imperceptible. He dropped his hand heavily, feeling completely disoriented. How long ago had Shikamaru started stealthily gathering information like that? He couldn't calculate it. A sharp cry caught his attention.
"Neji!" It was Hinata. She was looking at him with wide eyes as she covered her mouth with her hands.
"What?" He asked, confused. They were all gaping at him now. Tenten reached out a hand and pointed at his head. "Your Curse Seal ..."
He frowned in confusion. "What about it?"
Hinata's eyes filled with tears. She nearly choked but managed to get a few words out. "It's gone…"
Neji just stared at her. He thought they were all going to suddenly burst out laughing, because obviously it must be a joke. But neither Hinata nor Tenten would ever make such a cruel joke, especially in such a scenario. "What?"
Someone handed him a Hitai-ate. Neji took it and looked at himself in the reflection. He blinked and shook his head slightly. He blinked again.
It was true.
His forehead was free and clear, with only minimal scabs from the Hyuuga attack three nights ago. But the green tattoo of the Curse Seal was gone. His skin was clean and unmarked.
He froze. It was not possible. That mark had been there for almost as long as he could recall, and it would continue to be until the day of his death. It was the stigma he had to carry throughout his life for being a member of the secondary branch of the Hyuuga clan. Although he was very young when it happened, he remembered perfectly the day his grandfather had placed it on him, along with several other members of the secondary branch. It was the distinctive mark that separated him from the Main House, that identified him as inferior and that made him a prisoner. It couldn't be erased.
He looked at Shikamaru, then at Hajime, and then back at his reflection. All the pieces of the puzzle fell into place and everything made sense. He understood why the forest had tied him to the ground leaving him at the mercy of his grandfather. Why those deranged birds had separated him from his friends. The forest had not gone mad nor had been controlled by the enemy. It had been Shikamaru who had manipulated everything. Shikamaru, pulling the strings so that everything would unfold as he wanted. Neji realized this had been his plan from the very beginning: free him from the Curse Seal. He felt dizzy. His stomach churned and he thought he might vomit. He wanted to close his eyes to control the flood of sensations, but he couldn't stop staring at his reflection in the Hitai-ate. The mark was gone. It had happened many times in his dreams, but he never expected it to happen in reality. He considered the possibility of being dead again, because all of this was inconceivable. Someone asked him if he was okay or something but he sat in stunned silence.
"I can't believe it," Ino muttered. "This is what he wanted. He must have planned this ages ago, that brainy bastard."
The reflection trembled, because Neji's hands did. It is gone. It's gone. It sounded so ridiculous, so unreal, so unattainable. The possibility of being free of the Curse Seal had never even occurred to him. It was something he had just accepted he would have to live with, for there was no way to remedy it. He simply knew he would always fear death at the hands of the Main House because it would come sooner or later. Someday they would fry his brain with that damned seal as they had done to his father and so many others. But he was seeing it with his own eyes. It truly was gone.
It was too much. His mind was struggling to take it all in. In what seemed like another universe someone asked Naruto where he had come from and what he had to do with the whole thing. "I got back from the mission and came to see what happened with the trial. I saw a bunch of Hyuugas fighting some shiny deer and thought I should probably help the deer. But then those birds attacked me. I don't know, the forest had gone crazy or something. I even got attacked by some trees. When I got free I saw this old lady attacking Shikamaru so I hit her."
"Is not an old lady!" Tenten chided him. "He's Neji's grandfather."
While this conversation was going on the Hyuuga sat there still trying to absorb all that he was hearing and seeing. The image of his clean forehead began to blur because tears were filling his eyes. He was about to fall apart when a new voice echoed across the clearing.
"NEJI!"
Hiashi came running at top speed next to Shikamaru's mother. Judging by the state of their clothes and by the visible scratches on their bodies, they both fought as well. He couldn't speak to answer so he just stood up. As soon as he saw him Hiashi stopped abruptly. His eyes were fixed on his nephew's forehead.
"N-Neji ..." he stuttered, stunned. "The Curse Seal ...". He wanted to ask how and couldn't get the words out.
How was he to explain what had happened, or more precisely what Neji supposed had happened, if he couldn't even make a miserable sound? Instead of speaking, he casted a quick glance at the unconscious boy at his feet and hoped his uncle would decipher the message.
Hiashi followed his eyes and saw Shikamaru, who was now being checked on by his mother. Then he noticed Hajime, his father, also unconscious a few meters away. He didn't have much trouble connecting the dots. He looked back at his nephew with tear-filled eyes, something Neji hadn't seen on his face since Hizashis death. Hiashi took a hesitant step toward him, and then another and another until he was only inches away. He took the boy's head in his hands to study his clear forehead more closely, and Neji felt his fingers trembling. "Your father ..." he said between sobs. Now he was fully crying without even trying to hide it. Crying for him, for his freedom. He was not angry about breaking the laws of the Main House, he was happy to know that his nephew was now safe. At that moment he completely broke down. He threw both arms around Neji's neck and hugged him tightly. Neji allowed himself to be embraced, unused to such a great display of affection. Hiashi stammered between sobs. "He would be so relieved ..."
His uncle had truly loved his father and had never gotten over his death. The strong feeling of protection and love in that gesture explained everything: Hiashi was hugging his brother through Neji. Everything that was happening was too overwhelming.
He closed his eyes and thought of his father. That kind and sweet man who had cared for him with absolute dedication until the Hyuuga clan decided to take his life and use it to fulfill their own goals. Because that's what they did with Branch House Members.
But not anymore. Not with me.
Reality has never been so intense. Neji would have fallen to the ground if Hiashi hadn't been holding him in his arms.
Shikamaru felt a piercing pain in his head even before he opened his eyes. He frowned trying to recall everything that happened. He remembered receiving a blow from Hajime directly to the center of the chest and then being thrown backwards. He had probably hit something and then lost consciousness. But what had happened to the others?
He slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a dozen faces watching him. It took him a few seconds to figure out who they belonged to. He recognized his team, his mother...
"You're finally awake!" Ino exclaimed. She looked angry but relieved at the same time.
Shikamaru realized he was in his room in his house in the forest, lying on his bed. He propped himself up a little on his elbows and scanned their faces looking for one in particular. He found it immediately. Neji was sitting to his left, with Hiashi's arm wrapped around his shoulders. The look on his pale face showed he was in deep thought, and his eyes were a cold grey color. Shikamaru knew that color. It meant fear, without a doubt. Aside from that he seemed okay, and most importantly, there wasn't a trace of green on his forehead. The Curse Seal was gone.
He felt his heart slam against his chest while at the same time every muscle in his body seemed to release the tension that had been held in them for what seemed like forever. The ultimate goal he had been pursuing for years had been accomplished. The reason why he had worked so hard. Neji was free. His clan no longer had the magic switch with which they could kill him at will. As much as he was still a Hyuuga, he no longer belonged to them. If they wanted to hurt him, he could now defend himself. And Shikamaru had no doubt that he was much stronger than the entire Main House put together. Relief ran through him like a torrent. At last, since he had fallen in love with Neji, he could be at peace.
"It worked ..." he muttered without realizing it.
At that moment a small flash of light caught his attention and he lowered his stare a little. Neji's eyes were changing fast. The gray was quickly disappearing and turning into more of a soft red. But he could only see it for a few seconds, because Neji suddenly got up. The Hyuuga looked close to tears. His fists were tight and shook at the sides of his body. In the blink of an eye he moved to sit on the bed next to him. He wrapped his arms around his neck and held him tightly.
Shikamaru let him do as he liked, simply letting himself be held. He narrowed his eyes slightly and his gaze got lost, briefly forgetting that he was in a room full of people who were watching the two boys in fascination. Neji's body was jerking against his as he sobbed, and that too was important, significant. He couldn't let any other feeling, like shame or insecurity, prevent him from being there for him, no matter what. Exactly the way he'd gotten there. Not caring about anything else but him. He put a hand behind Neji's back and patted him gently. The boy tightened his grip and continued to cry.
Shikamaru supposed they were tears of happiness, but he still didn't want to see Neji cry ever again. He started caressing his back up and down, trying to communicate a single thought: You are safe now.
"You have managed to cause quite a commotion," Yoshino said. Reality returned in a snap. The woman was watching them with her hands on her hips and an expression of motherly displeasure. But he knew his mother. If she had been really mad she would have been throwing things at him and screaming like a maniac without caring that he was injured. Even so, she was still intimidating.
Shikamaru shrugged innocently. Boy had that been a commotion. In general, everything had gone according to plan, but he had almost lost control at various points. Particularly because of a peculiar unforeseen presence.
Remembering it, he felt fear. "Naruto!" He yelled, searching for the Uzumaki with his gaze.
"I'm here…" Shikamaru looked to the right and saw his friend next to Suimmin's huge head. The animal had the first half of his body stuck through the window and was licking the air in his direction, happy to see him awake. Naruto was leaning on him. His clothing and his skin showed scratches. Though most were probably from the mission, he showed a large amount of cuts on his fists and arms. That was definitely the result of fighting the flock of birds. Other than that he looked fine. Shikamaru sighed in relief. Naruto glared at him. "Next time you have a crazy plan let me know, okay? That way you don't have to throw a tree at me."
He wasn't really angry, but he would have had a right to be. "Sorry about that. I didn't count on you showing up, or on you being so powerful. When the hell did you get so strong?"
Naruto smiled and puffed out his chest with pride. He was going to answer but Shikamaru had another question. "Tell me later, okay? What happened to Hajime?"
"Naruto knocked him out," Kiba replied. "We threw him out of the forest along with the other Hyuugas. Just dumped them in a pile of hair and robes right outside the treeline. Pretty funny looking actually. Wish I would have gotten a picture. I guess some of them have probably woken up by now."
"And they must be furious," Hiashi added. Shikamaru met his stare. Above the worry a deep serenity prevailed. He also didn't seem to be angry at all.
Neji finally released him and sat up straight, wiping his tears with the back of his sleeves. When he raised his head again and looked at him, Shikamaru saw that his eyes were a deep red color. They lit up his face like two roses against an early spring snow. It was mesmerizing. He had never seen that pigmentation before. He knew that the heavy clouds inside Neji's eyes were usually pale lavender when he was calm, but turned gray when he was afraid and pink when he was aroused. That vibrant red was totally new. It could correspond to an emotion that Shikamaru had never seen on Neji's face. Did it mean that for the first time he was truly happy? The possibility of being the cause of something like that stunned him.
Others realized too. The change was too evident for the others to miss. "Did something happen to your eyes, Neji?" Asked Tenten from a corner. The boy turned to look at her, totally unaware of his transformation. She pointed to her own eyes. "They're red…"
From another corner Sakura stretched her neck to see him better. "Is that normal?"
Shikamaru wanted to answer, but he was still mesmerized by Neji's eyes. They were just too beautiful to not look at them. Hiashi's calm laugh reached him from his left, and that worked to break the spell. The man was staring at his nephew with a warm smile. "It is perfectly normal," he said.
He knew. Of course, he was a Hyuuga too. He knew that the eyes of some of them could change, and maybe also that they reacted to emotions. He had to know. And if he did and he was smiling like that, he had to share Shikamaru's theory. Neji felt happiness. Complete, absolute and pure happiness.
"We have other things to care about now". A new voice said. He followed the sound and found the Hokage. She was standing right next to his mother, in the exact same position. Actually, it was weird that he had not seen her sooner, because they looked like two steel statues, hard and immovable. The level of intimidation was palpable. "Although risky and totally unhinged", she said, "I understand why you did what you did. But what I want to know is what have you planned to do about the consequences."
Shikamaru hesitated and she frowned. "Because I imagine that if you had enough intelligence to come up with this whole intricate plan, you would have thought about the chaos it was undoubtedly going to unleash."
He shook his head slightly to clear his mind. Of course he had. Tsunade had just caught him off guard. "Don't worry about it, Godaime-sama," he told her with a smile. "That's phase two."
The woman's eyes widened. In fact, all the people in the room looked at him with the same amazement. "You're kidding, right?" Ino asked incredulously.
The Nara looked at her calmly. "What do you think?"
His mind was back in the game. It was time to take care of the last details, because the members of the Main House would undoubtedly be thirsty for revenge for the absolute beat down they had just received, and especially for having taken away the power over Neji they believed they deserved.
The first thing to watch out for was possible retaliation against other Branch House members, and then negotiation would take place. He looked at the Hokage and Hiashi seriously. "But from now on I can't do it alone." They both held his gaze. Shikamaru knew they were trying to decipher what he had in mind, but they would never make it. "Before you say no, I would like you to listen to me."
"What are you planning now?" Neji asked softly. He didn't seem scared by what phase two might entail, nor surprised by the Nara's decision to keep strategizing. He was smiling confidently. Like he trusted in him. Shikamaru smiled too and took one of his hands without being able to contain himself, not caring if anyone else noticed. "We are going to save all of them."
Neji looked at him in surprise for an instant. In his still glassy eyes red flames glowed. His smile widened and he squeezed Shikamaru's hand, nodding firmly.
When his mother made sure that the blow to his head had not caused a concussion, Shikamaru stood up and began to explain the final part of his plan. He only needed the help of a few people, but everyone stayed to listen. He provided them with the basics, but he would later discuss in more detail with Tsunade and Hiashi. There was not much resistance. What he wanted to do was unprecedented, but it was possible.
Before getting to work he asked what had happened with the ambassador's mission. Naruto had taken him down along with his henchmen. They weren't adept at handling natural energy yet, but they had a lot of it, which made them dangerous. Naruto was stronger than all of them and had managed to defeat them. They would serve their sentence in the Tea Country Prison, as redress for all the deaths they had caused. Shikamaru still regretted not being there to see them fall, but now he had to focus on bringing closure to all the chaos he had caused.
The first stage was to gather all the remaining Branch House members and get them out of harm's way as quickly as possible. The right people for this job were Neji and Hanae, as the Branch House members knew and trusted them. Even though Hanae belonged to the Main House, everyone knew that she loved her brother and that she always tried to protect him from the rest of the clan.
Stealthily, looking for them one by one with extreme care, they managed to gather all the members of the secondary branch. They were all scared. After Shikamaru's trial they feared for their lives, as at any moment a Main House member could show up to silence them and prevent them from speaking out against them. But Shikamaru's team arrived first. They were so scared that when Neji and Hanae assured them they would take them to safety, they all agreed. Just a few days ago half of them had disappeared and never came back. They could almost feel death approaching.
In a few hours they were all gathered in the clearing in the Nara forest. After the Branch House members' massacre that Hisao and the ambassador had organized, there were not many left. Shikamaru watched them through the windows. The youngest was around six years old, and he was holding the hand of a teenager. The oldest was a woman and she was not over thirty. They talked to each other and asked Neji to explain what was going on.
The boy tried to calm them down. "Quiet. Please let me speak. I know everything looks bad right now, but we will fix things. We have a solution."
"Do you have a solution for death?" Asked one of them wryly.
"They are very upset," added a concerned girl, referring to the Main House. "They will not risk the Hyuuga name being tainted. They will kill us all."
Some of the little ones started crying.
"They will not kill us. No one will hurt you," Neji insisted, but the audience was starting to get agitated. "Please listen to me."
His words had no effect. Then he did something that silenced them all. He took a hand to his forehead, which he had covered again with his Hitai-ate, and tore it off so that everyone could see his clean, unmarked skin.
A gasp of amazement and disbelief rose from the crowd. They were looking at it as if it were an illusion. The older girl put her hands to her chest and fell to her knees. "It's not possible," she whispered in a broken voice.
Neji smiled empathetically at her. He moved closer so they could see better. They all crowded around him with looks of awe on their faces. Everyone inspected him closely and some even touched his forehead reverently to make sure it wasn't a makeup trick.
"How is it possible?" Stammered the teenager who had asked him if he had a solution for death. Large tears fell down his cheeks.
"I'll explain it to you," Neji assured calmly. "But for that I want you to meet someone."
He turned toward the house in the clearing. That was his queue. Shikamaru opened the door and walked slowly towards them. Some recognized him. "You are the guy who killed Master Hado." There were murmurs.
Shikamaru stopped next to Neji and bowed slightly to greet them. "That's right. It wasn't part of the plan, but it happened."
Another boy stepped forward. His fists were clenched and he was shaking. "Did you erase the Cursed Seal? How did you do it?"
He explained to them that the mark they feared so much could be removed by the person who placed it, and briefly told them how he had achieved this by manipulating Hajime with his jutsu.
"Why did you do it?" Asked the older girl, still kneeling with tears in her eyes. The question threw him off, but he remembered that those people were used to being mistreated. They had probably been abused all their lives, so they felt no one cared about them.
Neji placed a hand on Shikamaru's arm. "To help me," he replied. "And he can help you too."
The Nara nodded. "I promise you. We will erase all your marks. I only ask that you trust me."
The first step was to place on each of the Branched House members the mandatory contact seal, so the Main House could not activate the Curse Seal without touching them. And just in case they would stay in the forest until everything was sorted out. No precautionary measures were excessive.
"I must go now," Shikamaru told them after the process was finished. Some watched him with fascination and others with suspicion, which made him feel a bit uncomfortable. "It is time to talk to the Council. You guys just stay here. Everything will be fine."
Neji approached him. Shikamaru thought he was going to warn him to be careful. But instead he took one of his hands on his and squeezed it. "Go get them," he whispered. It was like a shot of adrenaline. He had never felt so sure of himself before. They smiled at each other, and Shikamaru left to join Tsunade and Hiashi.
He requested an emergency meeting with the Council without giving details of why. He just stated that he needed to speak to them urgently. He entered the great hall alone, where the three members of the council, the same ones who had been present at his trial, were waiting for him behind a large desk. Their faces were serious and they looked angry. The confrontation of the night before had undoubtedly already reached their ears.
"The Hyuuga clan has made a very serious accusation against you, boy," said old Koharu as Shikamaru stood before them. "They say you have attacked them and that you have stolen Hyuuga property by removing a family seal without authorization."
He nodded calmly. "The Hyuuga clan has a very strange idea of what the word property means, but that is old news. They are also very confident because they never have to deal with the consequences of their actions, but I think that is going to change today." The council members frowned. They didn't like the confidence with which he spoke. "There are some things I would like to report."
Step by step, making sure not to leave any details out, Shikamaru related how the deal with the ambassador made by Hisao had allowed the Hyuuga clan to dispose of a huge field to cultivate deadly seeds, which they had later used to sicken and murder scores of villagers of the land of Tea with the aim of gathering chakra for the same crazy man. He didn't forget to mention the group of Branch House members that were murdered for the same purpose.
Then he explained to them that this practice with the seeds had a long history inside the clan, because for many years the Main House had used it to murder the parents of Branch House members who were from outside the family. "But you don't need to just believe me. I have plenty of evidence I have gathered during the investigation."
"Ridiculous," Mitokado said, still glaring at Shikamaru with contempt. "Why would they want to kill anyone outside the clan who married a Branch House member?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Shikamaru asked, just to piss them off a bit. "To be able to dispose of and use their children whenever and for whatever they wanted." He paused for effect.
"Remember everything Hado's wife denounced at the trial and that you yourselves witnessed? She spoke of mistreatment, when in fact the word she should have used was pedophilia."
This got the attention of all three of them. They looked at each other with wide eyes and protested. "How dare you make such a serious accusation? This is the most prestigious clan in the village. How can you slander their names like that?"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "I don't understand why you are so surprised, when you are the ones who gave them impunity to do whatever they want. You guys are experts at looking the other way when it comes to the Hyuuga clan. It is because of your lack of intervention in their affairs that they were able to prey on Branch House members for years."
Now he had attacked them directly, and just as expected, they took that attack very personally. Danzō stood up and hit the desk with his fists. "Insolent! An insignificant child like you cannot speak to us that way."
Old Koharu raised a hand to calm the man, but she also looked furious. "You're wearing out our patience, boy. The council has always looked after the safety of Konoha's people."
Shikamaru nodded. "You have, without a doubt, although you have chosen quite," he paused again, "questionable ways of going about it. I don't know who else would have thought that to protect the village from an internal group of rebels it was necessary to send the best shinobi to assassinate his entire clan including his own family, and then force him into exile as a traitor."
The room fell into silence. Shikamaru studied their faces. They were stunned. Someone like him should not have that information. They were afraid to say a single word that might further incriminate them. "Maybe you have forgotten because it has been quite a long time, but I'm referring to Itachi and the massacre of the Uchiha clan.
"Where did you get such an absurd idea?" Mitokado asked.
Shikamaru shrugged. "That doesn't matter now. What matters is what I can, and won't hesitate to do with that information. I know that many members of the Main House helped in the mission to find all the Uchiha. They really had you well tied up. That is why they have been allowed to commit atrocities and you just looked the other way. You bought their silence with the blood of innocent people. And that is why you are still protecting them now even after all the evidence that has been presented. Because you know you fucked up."
Koharu stood up too, now deeply offended. "Would you let all your people die at the hands of a group of rebels? To rule is to make the decisions nobody dares to make."
The Nara just watched her. "That sounds an awful lot like a confession."
Danzo clenched his fists on the desk. "Be careful boy. You never know what could happen right now. Accidents happen all the time."
Ignoring the threat, Shikamaru smiled. "Come on, sir. I'm not stupid enough to come here and make these sort of accusations without contingency plans in place. Do you really think we aren't being watched right now?" The three council members looked in all directions but found nothing. Shikamaru chuckled softly. "You are not the only ones with friends within the Hyuuga clan."
He waved his hand, and a few seconds later the room doors slid open to make way for Hiashi and the Hokage herself. They had been listening from across the hall. They immediately planted themselves on either side of Shikamaru's and leveled the Council with glares of contempt.
"It seems as though you have been keeping some, rather important information from me," Tsunade said coldly.
Danzō's expression was still threatening, but the two other elders looked nervous and cornered. "We did not want to implicate you... you did not deserve to take the blame," explained Mitokado in clumsy words. "It was long before you took your place as Hokage. And the matter was supposed to be buried already. Mentioning it would only ... "
The Hokage cut him off with a wave of her hand and the man fell silent. "I'm not interested in your pathetic excuses. Thanks to that disgusting decision, the Hyuuga clan has spent years committing atrocities in front of our eyes, and you allowed it to happen to save your own asses. You are responsible for the worst massacre in our history, and the intentional loss of one of the finest shinobi that this village has ever seen. AND you deliberately hid it from me. I should send you to prison for treason. Or even better: reveal the truth about Itachi's mission. If it became public that we have all lived deceived, hating that boy when in fact he was emotionally manipulated, ordered to massacre his entire clan, and then exiled as a traitor as thanks for his loyalty. I think the public, and especially the ANBU, might feel the need to seek out justice for themselves."
Her words had the intended impact. Even Danzō flinched a bit, intimidated.
"You can't do that," Koharu implored. "The village would lose all trust in the Council and the balance would break. There would be chaos."
Mitokado nodded and repeated the woman's words. They were talking over each other, desperate. Tsunade silenced them again. "I know what the consequences would be. You can stop shaking like frightened kittens. As contemptible as your actions were, the details must remain hidden. But now you are going to listen to what Shikamaru has to say. He has a very interesting proposal to make up for so many years of deception and abuse. And you WILL cooperate."
There were no protests.
Hajime was summoned. Shortly after, he arrived at the room where the meeting was taking place. He surely thought they were going to offer him restitution after the complaint he had made about the confrontation in the Nara forest, but he had a bit of a shock waiting for him.
When he entered his eyes surveyed the room and made note of everyone present. His eyes stopped and widened when he saw Shikamaru. His face filled with rage and he pointed an accusing finger at him. "YOU ACCURSED CHILD! HE IS THE ONE WHO ATTACKED THE MEMBERS OF THE MAIN HOUSE AND DARE TO ERASE A CURSED SEAL!" He lunged at the boy willing to take revenge, but Tsunade stepped in his path.
"Silence, Hajime," she told him in an authoritative voice. "You are not here to make complaints, but to listen. The Hyuuga clan has committed unfathomable atrocities inside and outside the village. It's time for debts to be paid. First, the deaths of thousands of inhabitants in the land of Tea. Second, the poisoning and killing of numerous people married to members of the secondary branch. And last, the abuse of power over the Branch House. Countless lives have been lost. And now it is time to be punished for those crimes."
The man turned a look of hatred towards Shikamaru, then towards Hiashi. "What are you implying, Godaime-sama? Whatever my son and this wretched child have told you, it is a lie. I am sure the Council can speak in my clan's name." He searched the Council members with his eyes hoping they would defend him, but all three fell silent and glanced away in shame and defeat. Hajime approached them with a threatening attitude and whispered through clenched teeth. He ordered them. "Speak now or I will."
"You have no power here, Hajime," the Hokage continued. "We are well aware of the details regarding Itachi's mission."
The man turned to look at her. His anger had given way to an expression of uncertainty. He looked back at the Council, but they just lowered their heads. Understanding the situation, the man straightened up trying to maintain his dignity. "Are you going to reveal it to the village? If you do, the retaliation will not only be against the Hyuuga clan, but also against the Council. The confidence of the whole village will crumble."
Tsunade shook her head. "We will not reveal anything, but in return you will do as I say. So I suggest you pay attention to the proposal. Shikamaru?"
She turned to the young Nara. He took a few steps towards Hajime, holding his gaze that was once again oozing hatred. He spoke without hesitation. "We demand the immediate dissolution of the secondary branch of the Hyuuga clan."
Hajime's jaw dropped in surprise. He looked at everyone present without believing what he had just heard. "IMPOSSIBLE! No one can interfere with the clan's traditions! It is part of Konoha's law!"
Tsunade didn't flinch. "Due to the reprehensible acts that this law has allowed to occur, it will not be taken into account in this case. Unless you want the whole village to know about the atrocities that the Hyuuga clan has committed, from the murder of the Uchiha until now. "
Hajime shook his head, but he was cornered. "You can't. We are the oldest clan in Konoha. The most prestigious. You cannot force us…"
"I can and I am," the Hokage stated. "But Shikamaru has a plan as to how this can be done and clear the name of the Hyuuga clan at the same time. It will dispel the rumors that are currently circulating about you."
The man glared at Shikamaru with a murderous stare, but the Nara was not intimidated. He nodded and proceeded to explain the proposal. "You will say that the Hyuuga clan is deeply hurt by Hisao's betrayal and Hado's mistreatment of the Branch House members. No one knows that there were other Hyuugas involved in both, and no one has to. The Hyuuga clan will state they have decided to dissolve the secondary branch in order to prevent such things from happening again. The whole village will think you are merciful and compassionate and will admire you."
Hajime clenched his fists and closed his eyes. He wanted to protest, but there was no possible way out. He must have understood that the best thing he could do was to acquiesce, because ultimately, he lowered his head in defeat.
That same afternoon announcements were issued to inform the people of the village that there would be an important event and everyone was encouraged to attend. It was only said that it was regarding the Hyuuga clan. There were still plenty of questions about what was happening within the clan after Shikamaru's trial, so no one was going to miss it. A huge crowd gathered in front of the Hokage mansion. They whispered among themselves and waited expectantly. Silence came when Tsunade appeared at the top of the steps of the mansion.
"First, I want to thank you all for your presence here today. This is a matter for all of us as citizens of Konoha. As you well know, a person belonging to the Hyuuga clan, precisely Hyuuga Hisao, has been imprisoned for treason against the village. In turn, in a trial that took place recently that I'm sure everyone remembers, it came to light that another member of the clan, Hyuuga Hado, was using his power over the Branch House members in reprehensible ways. Realizing the seriousness of what these individuals have done, the Hyuuga clan has come to an important decision." She paused. "I think it best that you hear it from the clan leader himself."
Behind her appeared Hiashi. He cleared his throat and began to speak solemnly. "The two-branch division of the Hyuuga clan has existed for generations, even before the founding of Konoha. It is an archaic, deeply rooted family tradition. The Curse Seal placed on the secondary branch members was intended to protect the secrets of the Byakugan from potential threats. Unfortunately some have taken advantage of that tool to cause great harm to others in unbelievable, and unthinkable ways. The Hyuuga clan is shocked to have discovered the reprehensible actions of Hisao and Hado, and we will not allow acts such as this to go unpunished. We must destroy the system that allowed it to occur." A murmur began to spread across the crowd. "That is why we have chosen to remove all Curse Seals and end the division within the clan once and for all."
Exclamations of surprise rose from the crowd. They didn't expect such a humanitarian and genuine gesture. Most people considered the Curse Seal strange and violent, but according to the law, no one could publicly criticize the inner workings of other clans. That made the decision even more incredible and worthy of admiration.
Hiashi waved his hand. A column of people came from somewhere and began to approach the steps. The crowd made way for them. They were the members of the secondary branch. They walked fearfully, some holding hands, still wary of what was about to happen.
Next to Hiashi, Hajime appeared, trying to hide his resentment and pretending to agree with what his son had said. He had placed all the Curse Seals on the currently living Branch House members, so he was the one that must remove them. He gestured for them to come closer, but their faces betrayed the fear so deeply ingrained in them. None dared.
A girl gave a young boy a gentle push and he began to approach Hajime very slowly. Before the wild eyes of the entire village, the man placed one hand on the boy's forehead and with the other he began to form a series of seals. At the end, a blinding glow flared between Hajime's palm and the boy's forehead. When it cleared the boy fell to his knees with his head bowed. When he lifted it everyone could see that the mark was gone. The boy touched his forehead and began to cry, as did many other members of the secondary branch. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers for the Hyuuga clan.
One by one all the Branch House members came forward for Hajime to remove the mark. People celebrated with each of them, moved by the reaction of relief and happiness of those who had previously been oppressed by that seal. The last one was little Hoshi. After Hajime removed the mark from him he ran to his sister Hanae, who lifted him in her arms and began to kiss his cheeks as they both cried rivers of tears. The response from the people was deafening applause.
Shikamaru watched the entire ceremony from his nondescript place within the crowd with a satisfied expression. Next to him was Neji, proudly showing off his forehead, though no one was paying attention to him.
The atmosphere of excitement and happiness was such that it seemed like a celebration. The former members of the secondary branch hugged and cried. The people of the village clapped them on the back and pushed to shake hands with Hiashi and Hajime for having performed such a commendable act. The feeling of glee was floating in the air.
Shikamaru turned to look at Neji. His eyes continued to have the same intense red tint and gleamed in the light of the sun. He wondered if they would ever return to normal. Ever since he had awakened after the confrontation in the Nara forest they had remained that color.
"You have saved their lives," Neji said, still staring at the Hyuugas who hugged each other, touched their foreheads and cried uncontrollably. He turned to look at him. His smile was so beautiful that Shikamaru was spellbound. "And mine."
He shrugged. "It was nothing."
Neji's smile got bigger and he leaned a little closer. He wrapped his arm around Shikamaru's, as couples did when walking through the village, not caring at all that there were so many people around them. "Do you know what I think?" He said without taking his eyes off him and holding that charming smile.
"What is that?" Shikamaru asked. He couldn't help but smile too.
But in that moment Neji's expresion changed. His face became serious. "I think you are completely insane. But, like, clinically. I mean deranged."
Shikamaru waited, thinking he was joking. But Neji's expresion didn't change. "Okay…", he said hesitating.
After a few more seconds, the Hyuuga smiled again. "And I love it." Then he planted a deep, loud kiss on his cheek. Still a bit taken aback, Shikamaru blushed. The contact of those lips with his skin had an immediate reaction. He cleared his throat and looked away to hide it, but Neji noticed and gave a loud, happy laugh.
It was a good chance to do something Shikamaru had needed to do for a very long time. Even if all the things he had done for him should have made it abundantly clear, he still needed to tell Neji exactly how he felt about him. Just to get it off his chest, and to make sure the Hyuuga knew, though he surely already did. He had practiced in his head what he wanted to say many times during the last few hours since he was finally able to admit it to himself, but he had not gathered the courage, or found the right moment to do it. Mostly because sappy stuff like this just made him a little uncomfortable and he didn't want to look like a fool. But if he kept putting it off, he would never do it. So he took a deep breath and looked back at Neji.
"Do you know what I think?" He was blushing even more now, anticipating the words that were about to come out of his mouth. The Hyuuga probably thought it was still the effect of his previous kiss. He kept watching him with that beautiful smile that only made things more difficult.
"What is that?" He asked in the same way Shikamaru had done seconds ago. He was determined to answer, but something interrupted him. From behind them Tsunade shouted above the noise of the crowd, and the spell was broken.
"Nara, you are a sneaky, crazy, brazen brat. But I'll be damned if you aren't a genius."
Neji released his arm, but not in embarrassment from the position they had been in. He did it slowly, letting his hands drift slowly until his fingertips were the last part of his body touching him, their hands brushing lightly. They both turned to Tsunade and bowed slightly. Shikamaru bit his tongue. The moment was gone.
"What will you do now?" the Hokage asked, addressing Neji.
The boy looked at her confused. "I'm not sure what you mean."
She put a hand on his shoulder. "Now you have the freedom to do what you wish. In all the time you have served as a shinobi, you have never asked for leave or used your vacation days. You have worked almost every day with very little rest. Perhaps it would be a good idea to take a little break. To think things through."
Neji considered the advice for a long time. Clearly he hadn't even thought about the freedom he now had. He had only thought about his clean forehead. "Sounds good to me," Shikamaru told him, encouraging him to accept.
Finally Neji nodded. "I guess I could take a little time for myself."
The rest of the former members of the secondary branch called on him to join them. Before doing so he approached the Hokage and hugged her. "Thank you, Godaime-sama." She seemed startled, but Shikamaru thought he understood why Neji was suddenly giving so many physical displays of affection. First of all, he was grateful. The Hokage was one of the people who had contributed the most to Neji and the other ex-Branch House members' freedom. Second, he had always been quite cold and distant with others. But now that he knew he could be whoever he wanted without fear of retaliation from the Main House, he seemed to overflow with affection.
After a few seconds he released the Hokage and turned around to join the others, but they didn't give him the chance. The group of blissful Hyuugas had just spotted Shikamaru, and apparently they wanted to show him their gratitude too. They rushed past Neji to accost the mastermind.
Like an uncontrolled mob they pounced on him, surrounding him on all sides. Some were laughing, some were still crying, but all were shouting thanks as they hugged him until he was almost out of breath. From the outside it must have looked as if a great wave made of people had swallowed him up. Shikamaru understood the exaltation, but the situation was very uncomfortable. It was like being surrounded by dozens of strange versions of Neji at different ages and genders. He didn't really object though, mainly because he couldn't. There were too many of them, and he didn't want to ruin their excitement. As they squeezed and shook him from side to side he saw Neji's face smiling radiantly at the scene.
At some point he managed to break free. The Hyuugas didn't even notice. They were jumping and screaming, celebrating their liberation. Shikamaru approached his friends who had been watching the improvised ceremony like everyone else. Eventually the sun started descending in the sky. People slowly dispersed and only the cheerful Hyuugas remained, laughing and talking among themselves at full speed about all the things they were going to do now. Neji laughed with them. He ruffled the hair of the younger ones with his fingers and listened to the hilarious plans of his companions. A while later he returned to where Shikamaru and his friends were, still holding back his laughter.
"They are euphoric. Some will go to cut and dye their hair, others to get tattoos, others to drink until they die." He shook his head in disbelief. "They have gone crazy."
Tenten walked over and hugged Neji's arm like he had done with Shikamaru earlier. "Because they finally feel free to live! Maybe we should have our own party and celebrate." She also looked very happy, almost as happy as her teammate. "Is there a better reason to celebrate than this?"
Ino cheered and several of the others followed. Neji hesitated, but finally smiled again. "Sure. Why not?"
The girls jumped with excitement and began talking very fast amongst themselves to organize everything. Of course it had to be in the Nara forest house, which had already proven to be a great location for all kinds of reunions. But they would do something different, they would decorate for the occasion so that it would look special. The plan was to split up to find supplies and meet there immediately afterward. In the sky the sun was already approaching the horizon. They would start everything at nightfall.
They went separate ways, except for Neji and Shikamaru, who unconsciously started walking together towards the Nara forest. When Neji noticed it he stopped. "I think I should go to my house first, to look for clothes."
Shikamaru watched him. His white suit from the Hyuuga clan was still dirty and torn for his fight against the birds and the roots of the forest. After the battle, everything had happened so fast that no one had wasted time changing clothes. Even Shikamaru's was in a similar state.
"I can lend you something of mine," he told him. He took his hand and led him back to the road. "We can surely find something."
They walked quickly so as not to waste time, never letting go. With every step they looked at each other and smiled. For no reason after entering the forest they began to walk faster, moving through the trees and bushes, tightly holding hands, pushing each other from time to time and laughing like children. When they reached the clearing they practically ran into the house. They released themselves to catch their breath, still laughing.
"You can take whatever clothes you want from the closet," Shikamaru told him as he recovered. "I'll take a quick shower."
Neji touched his hair, running his fingers through the thick strands. "I need a shower too."
The Nara waved his hand toward the bathroom. "Do you want to go first?"
The answer was unexpected. Neji approached with a mischievous smile and took him by the hand again. "I think we can save time if we go together."
Shikamaru happily let himself be led away. "You're the boss."
He guided him through the house giving little hops and giggling. They had less than an hour before the others arrived and that increased the adrenaline. The sudden expectation of seeing him without clothes was already causing Shikamaru's body to react accordingly. As soon as they entered the bathroom Neji turned on the shower, and a second later the Nara pulled from his hand with the intention of trapping him in a passionate kiss. But he was too slow. Neji had turned and lunged faster, grasping his face with both hands and plunging his tongue into his mouth fiercely. Shikamaru sunk into the kiss as his hands encircled Neji's body and held him against his own.
Never before had the Hyuuga been so direct and intense. He dug his fingers hard into his jaw and then wound them around to the nape of his neck, where he gripped so hard that Shikamaru felt nails pierce his skin. But that didn't matter, because Neji was now kissing his cheek, his temple, his neck, and every inch of him, licking and biting. Their clothes flew off as the room filled with steam and the window fogged up.
Neji walked him back into the shower and they both dove under the rush of hot water. It was maybe too hot, but neither of them cared. Neji reached for Shikamaru's erection with his hands and caressed it, wrapping his fingers around it. The Nara groaned, though the sound was muffled by Neji's lips colliding with his again. His erection began to drip, mixing with the water and making the sensation of Neji's hands even more maddening. He searched with his fingers along the Hyuuga's skin, circling his buttocks until he reached the entrance to his body. There he pressed lightly, making Neji moan. Shikamaru had planned to do it slowly so as not to hurt him, but Neji had other plans. The Hyuuga jerked back suddenly, pushing his fingers further into his body. He moaned even louder and squeezed Shikamaru's member in his hands, making him scream out. It was incredible how excited and worked up they were so soon after getting into the house. And within a few short minutes Shikamaru had turned Neji against the wall and had pressed into the other boys willing body. A frenzy of passion washed over them as they collided over and over again in an unhinged rhythm. The steam could have been coming from them instead of the water as their beings merged. Shikamaru kissed and bit Neji's shoulders and neck making him moan louder than he ever had before. They exploded at the highest point of climax at the same time, as if their bodies had waited for each other to get there together.
After the whirlwind of sensations passed, they turned off the shower and started to dry off. Shikamaru finished first and left the bathroom to go into his room and start dressing. Neji arrived shortly after. He sat on the bed completely naked while he dried his long hair with a towel. Then he began to comb it with his fingers. He was so beautiful that Shikamaru had a hard time trying to stop looking at him.
He was finally able to tear his eyes off the other boy and left the room, but an instant later he stopped. This was a perfect moment to confess his feelings. He was about to turn around to do so when he heard voices in the clearing. He went to peer out one of the windows. Emerging from the bushes he saw Ino, Sakura, Tenten and Hinata, their arms full of things. Shikamaru identified garlands and colored lights among them. This gave him an idea. He walked out to meet them and before they greeted him, he signaled for them not to make noise. Neji was still in the room looking for something to wear, and it seemed like a good idea to surprise him with the ready-made decorations. He gestured for the girls to go about their business in silence.
A few minutes later Neji walked out the door, and surprised them as much as they had surprised him. He looked amazing. He had pulled his hair up high in a loose, messy bun that revealed his pretty, slender neck. But the most surprising thing was his outfit. He was wearing one of the Nara clan's mesh shirts. The black fabric wrapped around his abdomen and the pale skin of his arms contrasted stunningly against the dark fabric. Above it he had a white sleeveless crop top. Upon further study, Shikamaru discovered it was his robe from the Hyuuga clan, but trimmed and reshaped. He also wore light colored pants that he apparently had cut with his own hands to turn into shorts. Shikamaru knew it was one of his own pairs of pants, but he didn't care one bit. Seeing him dressed like that was worth all the pants in the world. He would have allowed him to destroy every piece of clothing he owned if it meant he would look that sexy every day.
Neji was also surprised. He looked at the beautiful colored lights and floral garlands adorning the trees with a smile as wide as his entire face. Even Suimmin, who had sensed the excitement, had joined them to participate in the party and was ready for the occasion. They had decorated his antlers with daisies and dandelions. The Hyuuga ran to the girls and hugged them. They were all surprised. It would take time for most people to get used to the new and affectionate Neji.
Shortly after the others arrived bringing bottles of liquor they placed on tables made of logs. Then powerful notes echoed through the forest. Someone had made sure there was music. They started drinking while talking and joking, it was time for the merriment to commence.
Shikamaru didn't remember having such a fun night in his life. Neji was so happy that he had one drink after another and danced around barefoot on the grass. He really looked like a prisoner celebrating his longed-for release day. His joy was contagious. Everyone seemed to be so carefree and joyful as they celebrated with him.
Hours went by like this. When Shikamaru began to feel the trees spinning dangerously around him he decided it might be time to take a break on the drinks. He wanted to be at least somewhat sober, because he suspected that Neji would lose consciousness upon reaching his alcohol limit. Expecting no one would notice, he moved to a side to get away from the loud music. Neji seemed to be floating around the clearing like a forest nymph. His head was adorned with flowers that the girls had placed on him. It was quite surreal considering how serious he used to be, but that wasn't all. With his eyes closed, he circled his arms around his body and moved his hair from side to side, causing some locks to loosen and start rocking with the motion. Shikamaru could only watch him. He had always known Neji was beautiful, but he had never looked as lovely as he did that night.
At some point during his trance he opened his eyes and saw Shikamaru standing at the edge of the party. Immediately he started gesturing to join him, but he declined with a smile. Neji approached, swaying a little.
"You do not dance?" Asked the Hyuuga. He was clearly drunk but seemed wide awake.
"I am dancing." Shikamaru replied. The older boy stared at him in confusion, so the Nara pointed to the ground. Neji followed the direction of his finger. One of Shikamaru's feet was moving to the rhythm of music.
"Wow" The Hyuuga said, smiling. "Such talent."
"I know" Shikamaru agreed. "You seem to be enjoying yourself."
Neji nodded. "And I am not the only one." He glanced at the rest of their friends. Shikamaru followed his gaze. At first he thought he was referring to all the others, but then he saw his eyes were focused on two of them. Tenten and Choji were dancing next to each other, making jokes and laughing very loudly. Tenten cheeks were red as tomatoes and she giggled like a little girl. They almost looked like a couple, and Shikamaru realized what was happening there. Were they… flirting?
"When the hell did that happen?" he asked, completely shocked.
Neji didn't seem surprised. "I totally saw it coming. She's had had a crush on Choji since we were children."
That was new information. "Well I certainly had no idea. And I'm sure Choji doesn't either."
The Hyuuga watched them with affection. "I'm glad she finally dared to approach him. Everybody should do what they want to do, without letting fear stop them. Just like the Branch…" He stopped off with a silly smile. "Ex Branch House members. A few said they are going to hang up their Hitai-ate. Many of them never wanted to be shinobi to start with. It is as if their lives are starting anew."
"Is that what you want?" Shikamaru asked.
Neji took a sip from the drink in his hand. "No, I like being a shinobi. But maybe I could take a break from missions. I could do administrative work. Or teach. I like the idea of being a teacher."
Shikamaru smiled. "I think you would do a great job."
Neji smiled back and looked at the others who were continuing the party. "They are also leaving the Hyuuga territory. Maybe I could move too. Find an apartment or something."
"You could stay here..." Shikamaru suggested. Neji looked at him curiously. "Or maybe just until you find something you like."
The Hyuuga ran his eyes across the clearing. "I really love this place. But won't you mind having me here?"
Shikamaru pretended to think about it as if he might dislike the idea. Seeing Neji's surprised face he let out a soft laugh. "Of course not."
The boy smiled again and leaned his head on his shoulder. "Then I accept."
"We can go to your uncle's house to get your things."
Neji shrugged. "I don't have many things that I want to keep. I will definitely discard all my Hyuuga clan clothes and buy new ones. There is not much more."
"Good," Shikamaru agreed. "Tomorrow we'll go and retrieve everything you need."
Neji straightened and moved his head upside down very slowly, considering it. "Yes, I guess we could. Honestly I had not thought about going back to the Hyuuga compound."
"If you don't want to…"
"No", Neji interrupted. "I do want to. I want to see those jerks now that they cant hurt or torture me anymore. After all, I have no reason to be afraid of them. From now on I will do everything I want and say everything I feel like saying, like everyone should."
Those words echoed in Shikamaru's ears. This was his moment. He wasn't going to miss it again. "I'm glad you feel that way, because there is something I need to tell you."
Neji stared straight at him with his glowing red eyes. This threw him off a little and he went mute for a second. "I am listening," the Hyuuga encouraged him.
Shikamaru suddenly felt very nervous. He cleared his throat and words just started falling out of his mouth. "Well, okay. Actually, you probably already know this. After all that has happened I suspect I don't actually need to tell you. But I kinda think it's important… Or maybe it's not important, I don't know, but anyway. I just wanna make sure it's clear to you. I mean, its really stupid. You know, words are just words. Actions are what actually matter, but even so…" All the speech he had prepared got tangled up into an unrecognizable mess. In the meantime, Neji stared at him with a tender expression. "Sorry. I didn't think this through as well as I imagined."
The Hyuuga laughed softly. "Just say it."
As he had done a few hours ago, Shikamaru took a deep breath and spoke. But he had to lower his head, because he simply couldn't look into those ruby eyes and say it. He focused on his feet and the words came out. "I'm in love with you… Just in case you hadn't noticed already."
He heard Neji giggling now, but he was too ashamed to meet his eyes. "I had my suspicions." Then he bent his knees to be able to look up into his downcast eyes. "Well in case you hadn't noticed either… I am in love with you too."
Shikamaru finally straightened. That was the phrase he was hoping to hear, and the possibility of not hearing it was the reason why he was so scared of sharing his own feelings. He relaxed, standing up straight again, and letting out a breath he didn't even realize he had been holding. Neji straightened too and they simply looked at each other for a moment, grinning like love sick idiots.
"I wish I could do something as big as what you have done for me, to show you how much you mean to me." Said the Hyuuga. From the way his eyes glowed, he was being completely honest.
Shikamaru shook his head. "You don't have to do anything. Just, be with me."
Neji's smile got bigger. "I can do that. But…" He paused for a moment, creating suspense. " I have one condition."
The Nara narrowed his eyes. "What?
One last, short pause. "Dance with me."
Shikamaru opened his eyes wide. "Are you insane? I'm dangerously bad. Seriously. I mean, I could kill someone."
This only made Neji laugh openly. He took him by the hand and led him to where the others were still having fun. "That's a risk I'm willing to take."
"Okay, your funeral." the Nara said, though he was obviously joking.
They barely made it to the dancing area when their friends saw them. "You're not going to try to make him dance, right?" Asked Ino. "He can't take two steps without losing rhythm."
Everybody laughed, but Neji didn't care. "I bet I can teach them. Just watch."
"Same old cocky Hyuuga," said a voice coming from the left. It was Kiba. Apparently he was still dealing with getting along with Neji. "You haven't really changed so much after all."
Shikamaru was about to tell him to shut the fuck up, but Neji spoke first. "And you are still the same old pain in the ass. Are you ever going to change?" Kiba opened his mouth to reply with another biting comment, but Neji did it first. "I am just messing with you." He said, smiling warmly. "I would really like to leave this animosity behind us, wouldn't you?" He extended a hand towards the Inuzuka, without releasing Shikamaru's. "Friends? Or if you are not ready for that, possible friends?"
Kiba stared at his hand and then to the rest of his friends. They were all making gestures that he should accept the truce. After some doubt he lowered his shoulders and took Neji's hand. They shook once and then let go.
Everybody cheered. "Great", Said Shikamaru. "So everything is cleared up now."
That was when Ino saw her chance to get a bit of gossip. "And isn't there something the two of you would like to clear up?"
The Nara regarded his friends with a grumpy stare. "Like what?"
"You know, like what's really going on between you guys?"
Tenten supported the idea. "Yeah! Confess it already! We need to know."
Shikamaru started feeling uncomfortable again. "Is it really necessary? I mean, isn't it obvious?"
"Maybe", Ino agreed. "But still I'd like to hear it, you know, just to be sure…" She was smiling mischievously.
At that moment Neji sighed and rolled his eyes. "Kami. What do you guys need? An official statement? Here it is." Without warning he pulled from Shikamaru's hand and attracted the other boy into a deep kiss. "There. Now let's go back to the party!"
He moved away and started dancing again. Most of the others joined him, except for Ino and Choji, who were just staring at Shikamaru with huge smiles. He was fully blushing again and didn't know what to do, because he never expected Neji to do something like that. Ignoring their happy faces he just looked away. "Yeah, well…" he muttered.
Ino burst into laughter. "Our dear slacker is in love! He really got you, didn't he? I mean you are the laziest person who ever existed, but you moved heaven and earth for him. He really brought out the best in you."
He tried to control himself. "Shut up," he said with annoyance.
Choji laughed as well. "Leave him alone. Speaking about his relationship makes him uncomfortable."
Shikamaru took the opportunity to change the conversation to a less embarrassing subject, at least for him. "Speaking of relationships, what's up with you and Tenten?"
Choji blinked, surprised by the question. He turned his head around and stared at Tenten, who was dancing with Neji and the rest of their friends. "Tenten? I don't know. She has been really nice to me lately."
"That's because she's crazy about you," the Nara said.
Choji whipped his head around, gaping at him with wide eyes. "Whaaaat?"
"Trust me, buddy. I have it on good authority. She's pretty, don't you think?"
The Akamichi blushed instantly. "Of course she's pretty. That's why I don't see why she'd be interested in me."
"Stop doubting yourself. Just go talk to her," Shikamaru insisted. And even Ino, who used to be very jealous of her two best friends, encouraged him to make a move. Choji still seemed insecure, but night was still young.
As Shikamaru had anticipated, a few hours later Neji was totally unconscious on the grass. Several of the others were very drunk as well, and it wouldn't take long before they were in the same state. It meant the party was over.
"Do you need help with him?", Asked Choji looking at Neji, who was sleeping on the ground with a calm smile. The Akimichi had an arm around Tenten's shoulders. She was swaying a bit and was extremely flushed, although it was unclear if it was because of the alcohol.
"I got it. Thanks buddy," he replied. Then he smiled knowingly at his friend and winked. "I'll see you around."
Choji blushed a bit and looked away uncomfortably. He said goodbye with a nod.
When everyone left, Shikamaru knelt next to Neji and lifted him into his arms. He shifted a little in dreams, but immediately snuggled against his chest and continued to sleep. Shikamaru carried him inside and placed him carefully on the bed. He lay down next to him, but before falling asleep he spent a long time admiring his clear forehead and his expression of calm as if they were the most precious things in the world. And for Shikamaru, they were.
Neji woke up the next day with a biting hangover. He sat on the bed with his hair totally disheveled and looked sideways. Shikamaru was not there. It must be close to noon judging by the light filtering through the curtains of the huge window. He got up, but didn't leave the room without first contemplating for a few seconds his reflection in the mirror. He would never tire of looking at his clear forehead. His face lit up with a wide smile and the hangover disappeared, or at least he stopped caring about it.
He found Shikamaru in the living room drinking coffee. He seemed to have gotten up a while ago, but he had let Neji sleep as long as he wanted.
"Good morning," the Nara greeted him with a smile.
Neji walked over and gave him a tender kiss on the lips before pouring himself some coffee and sitting next to him. He had never really liked coffee, but for some reason he now felt capable of finding a pleasant taste in everything. It was intense and bitter, and he savored it like a delicacy.
"I guess yesterday you weren't drunk enough to forget what we planned to do today," Shikamaru told him as he watched him drink from his cup.
Neji nodded. "Go to Hyuuga lands to get my things. And never set foot in there again." Knowing that that day would be the last time he would have to enter his clan territory made him feel butterflies in his stomach.
Shikamaru set his empty coffee cup aside. "Just give the order and we'll go."
After breakfast Neji went to what from now on would be "their" room to get ready. Shikamaru followed him and watched him as he combed his hair in front of the mirror.
"Before we leave, I have a question," the Nara said." Regarding your eyes. What's with that new color?"
Neji watched his now red eyes in the reflection. "You know they change color with my emotions, and lately I have been feeling a lot of new things."
"I get that you are happy about being free, but when I woke up after the fight in the forest they were not like that. What happened?"
The Hyuuga turned slowly to look at him. "You really don't know? You are supposed to be a genius…" He was teasing him, because he couldn't hide his smile while he said it. "It's because I was worried about you. They probably changed the moment I saw you wake up, right?"
He looked at him for confirmation. Shikamaru recalled the moment and remembered it was true. "I think so."
Neji nooded. "That is because even despite being free, I couldn't be happy without you."
Shikamaru felt his heart skip a beat against his chest. Confirming Neji's love towards him was the most magical thing that had ever happened to him. "Aww", he said, exaggerating a little to make it funny. "That's so cute."
Neji rolled his eyes and threw the comb on the bed. Then he walked past him. "Shut up and let's go."
They left the house and walked among the lush bushes of the Nara forest protected by the high canopies of the trees that filtered the rays of the sun. Neji still couldn't believe that from that moment on, that magical and wonderful place would be his home.
As soon as they entered the Hyuuga territory, many eyes watched them with caution. Now that there wasn't a Branch House anymore, there wasn't a Main House either. So all those men were simply Hyuugas. Neji passed between them with a firm step and an upright bearing, proudly displaying his unmarked forehead. The former main house Hyuugas kept their distance, fearing that he might lash out at them. But he ignored them. He walked without hesitation to his uncle's house.
There were Hiashi, Hinata and Hanabi, who received him warmly, as well as Shikamaru. He explained to them that he would be moving to the Nara forest. And they all agreed, looking truly happy for him, and also not surprised. He retired to his room while Shikamaru chatted quietly with his family. There wasn't much that Neji wanted to take. In fact, there was only one thing: the portrait of his parents that his uncle had given him years ago. He picked it up and returned to his family.
Before leaving, he hugged Hiashi and his cousins affectionately. Once outside the house Shikamaru looked at him, waiting for instructions. "Shall we go?" He asked.
Neji shook his head. "Not yet. There is one last thing I want to do."
He guided him through the Hyuuga territory until they reached the Council Palace. The place they had infiltrated long ago to hear his mother's message, thanks to another of Shikamaru's crazy plans. That necklace belonged to Neji, and he wanted it back.
"Wait for me here," he said to the Nara. He entered the Palace with a solid stride and confident air. Inside many Hyuugas from the disbanded Main House froze when they saw him enter. Neji faced them. "I have come to get what belongs to me. Let me pass." Nobody moved. It was evident from the expressions on their faces that they didn't dare try to stop him, but their foolish pride made it difficult for them to comply with an order from someone who until just a day ago had been under their control. Neji looked at them defiantly. "Unless you wish me to move you out of my path." He made his chakra flutter in threat.
That was enough to cow the Hyuugas. They stepped aside allowing him to pass. It was nauseating. They knew Neji was stronger than all of them combined. Now that they didn't have the Curse Seal to subdue him, they didn't want to risk a physical confrontation because they knew they would have no chance. Neji regarded them with contempt. "You are pathetic." He spat, and passed between them. He went directly to the deposit where all the objects that the Main House had unjustly confiscated from the Branch House members were located. He had no trouble finding what he was looking for because he knew exactly where it was. He took the small case that contained his mother's necklace and opened it to make sure it was there. The beautiful gold disc glittered inside its box. Neji closed it and held it against his heart for a moment before turning around and leaving. No one got in his way. The Hyuugas looked away and let him go.
Outside Shikamaru was patiently waiting for him with his hands in his pockets, with that relaxed attitude that was so unique. As he approached him, Neji shook the hand where he held the small case so that the Nara could see it, not even realizing he was already smiling again. "We are good now."
Shikamaru returned the smile. "Great. Are you not going to put it on?"
Until that moment Neji hadn't thought about that. He just wanted to get his mother's necklace back, but he had never considered wearing it. It made complete sense. It belonged to him, and he had the right to use it. He stared at the small case in his hand and then to Shikamaru again, taking a little time to process the idea. Finally he nodded softly a couple of times."Yes, I am."
With great expectation but without losing his calm, he opened the case. He used his fingers to take the necklace out, and held it in front of his eyes for a few seconds, admiring the way it shone under the sunlight. It was so beautiful, and it brought back the memory of his mother, which made him feel happy and sad at the same time. Maybe melancholic was the appropriate word for it. Shikamaru must have seen it, because he reached a hand towards him. "Want me to help?"
Neji stopped staring at the golden disk and nodded. He handed the necklace to Shikamaru and turned around, lifting his hair with his hands. The Nara surrounded his neck with the golden chain and put it in place. Neji turned around again and looked down. The locket sparkled against his pale skin, right in the center of his chest. He lifted his head and stared at Shikamaru, who kept smiling. "Looks great," he said, but then he diverted his eyes as something behind Neji caught his attention. The Hyuuga looked back over his shoulder to see what had drawn his gaze.
The group of ex Main House members he had faced inside the Council Palace were now outside, glancing at them with resentment. It was amazing how much it bothered them to see him happy. At first he felt angry and wanted to yell at them that they were despicable human beings, but then he realized he really didn't care about them. They were powerless now, and most important, they were in the past. He turned to Shikamaru again.
"Are you ready now?" Asked the Nara.
Neji wrapped his arm around his as he had done during the ceremony the day before. This was the person who loved him the most in the world, and the sentiment was mutual. They were about to start a new life together. It still felt like a dream. Actually, for the first time in his life, reality was even better than his most wonderful dreams. He gave Shikamaru a beaming smile.
"Yes. Let 's go home."
They walked away, knowing they had the rest of their lives to share. And that from now on no one was going to stand between them. It would be just the two of them, forever. Feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the emotions flowing through him, Neji rested his head against Shikamaru's shoulder. Side by side, they left the Hyuga territory to take their first steps towards their radiant future, where there would no longer be fear or suffering. Life was just beginning.
LAST CHAPTER!
AAAAH I can't believe it's over! I know you had to wait for it for a very long time so sorry for that. Was it worth it? I would love to read your opinions on the ending! Also just for fun, and if you remember because it was a pretty long story, would you like to tell me which were your favorite moments? From the first or the second part. Was there something you didn't like? I accept all comments!
I have a third part in mind - Shikak's issues still have to be resolved - but first I want to finish the other stories I started and maybe write some more one shot. Do you like one shots?
Also, did you guys like Tenten and Choji ship? I think they're really cute and I love that Neji and Shikamaru's best friends are together too.
Infinite thanks to my dear Miranda Z for helping me through most of this story with her wonderful editing, and for providing quality, humor and details that made the narration much more enjoyable.
And thanks to all of you for being with me all this time and for being patient. Your support and words of encouragement meant a lot to me, and knowing that you liked the story is the best reward in the world.
Happy holidays and see you soon!