Shikamaru's POV
He felt Neji slowly waking next to him and lowered his stare from the ceiling. He had been staring at said ceiling the entire night. After what he had seen the previous day he couldn't sleep at all. The disturbing image of the defenseless Hyuuga boy surrounded by those three damn Main House members made his blood freeze in his veins with fear. Neji sighed softly in his arms and raised his hands to rub his eyes with tightly clenched fists. After doing so, the Hyuuga looked up and met Shikamaru's gaze.
"Good morning," he whispered, after seeing he was already awake.
Shikamaru contemplated the pale lilac pools that made up Neji's eyes. "Good morning," he answered in a voice that came rougher than he expected.
At hearing the strange tone, Neji focused his eyes more carefully on the others face. He recognized it. The Hyuuga's gaze immediately jumped Shikamaru's eyes, noticing the dark circles beneath them. He frowned sightly.
"You didn't sleep," he whispered with pain in his voice. He raised his hand to the Nara's face and gently caressed his cheekbone.
Shikamaru leaned into the touch closing his eyes and savoring the sensation. "I'll sleep after you leave," he said softly, opening his eyes.
Neji simply held his stare with sad eyes, and after a few seconds, shook his head slowly. "No, you will not," he replied.
The Nara watched him, knowing that, starting today, the other boy would be far from him for a very long time. He would have to deal with that painful feeling of missing him again. With that unpleasant sensation on his chest, he simply didn't feel like lying.
"No, I won't…" he replied honestly. "But I will, eventually, because you'll be safe." Slowly, he slid his fingers to caress the Hyuuga's lower back through his clothes. "I will be alright…"
Neji finally smiled a little and leaned in to kiss him softly. Shikamaru wrapped his arms around that small waist and brought him closer. The two ninja kissed tenderly, clinging to each other in a sweet embrace. In that moment, the horrible thought of not feeling Neji's lips on his for an indeterminate time made his heart sink, and he moved forward to plunge his tongue in the Hyuuga's mouth. Neji moaned instantly at the sensation, and pressed his hands to Shikamaru's nape to fist in his hair. They held each other tight as the kiss grew more desperate. It was charged with sorrow, and frustration, and the terrible certainty that loneliness was approaching, for both of them. It was definitely the first bitter kiss they had shared.
After an intense moment they broke apart, instinctively joining their foreheads. Shikamaru closed his eyes. He wanted to express to Neji how much he was going to miss him, but he didn't dare say it. Besides, it would only made things harder. So he took a deep breath and opened his eyes again, meeting the Hyuuga's concerned gaze. Gathering all his strength, Shikamaru smiled weakly. He knew it probably didn't look convincing.
"Lets go," he said, trying to sound reassuring. "Let's not make your uncle wait."
After one last sad kiss, they stood up and got ready to go. It was early morning, and the day was just beginning to clear. They walked side by side through the forest, heading towards the gate. When they were almost there they saw Hiashi's figure cut out in the red light of dawn.
Fortunately, the goodbye was fast. Neji hugged his uncle, who begged him to take care of himself, and after one last look at Shikamaru the boy left. Hiashi would send a letter to the border's captain in Neji's name saying that he was coming back, just to avoid wasting time. The young Nara and the man stayed at the big entrance, watching the boy walk away under the pink clouds. They followed him with their eyes until he went out of sight. Only then did they turned around.
Shikamaru hesitated. What should he do now? Say goodbye and leave? He was trying to find words to address to Hiashi when the man spoke, not looking at him.
"I have not thanked you for warning me about what was happening yesterday." He spoke seriously.
"You don't have to, Sir." Shikamaru replied calmly.
Hiashi shook his head. "I do." He argued. "You saw what was going on because you were paying attention. And I am glad you did…" He paused. He finally looked at Shikamaru. "I hope you understand that it is better for Neji to stay at the border."
The Nara nodded slowly. "I do, Sir," he responded politely.
But at hearing that, Hiashi frowned. "I doubt that," he whispered.
Shikamaru arched his eyebrows at this, not knowing what he meant. "Why do you think that, Sir?" He asked, trying to stay calm.
Hiashi tensed his lips a little before answering. "I suspect that the fact that Neji has stayed in Konoha so much time had something to do with you." He spoke tersely.
Shikamaru tried to ignore the thought that the man probably sensed that there was something unusual going on between him and his nephew. He continued to focus on staying calm. He knew Hiashi was the only one with the authority to keep the Main House members away from Neji. So he needed to be on good terms with the man just in case he needed his cooperation some time in the future. And he was still sure that the best way to achieve that was being honest.
"It does, Sir." Shikamaru replied sincerely. "But I assure you that I advised him to leave. No one knows that he's better off there than me. Actually…" he was about to add something, but he stopped.
Hiashi noticed, narrowed his eyes, and watched him with suspicion. "What?" He questioned harshly.
Shikamaru stared at him, mute for a moment. That was it. He had to be straight with the man, as embarrassing as it was. So he swallowed and licked his lips nervously before answering.
"I sent Neji to the border, Sir," he confessed.
Hiashi's eyes went wide for an instant, and then he frowned again. "You?" He asked, not believing him. "How?"
Shikamaru didn't hesitate this time. "I wrote the recommendation that put him there," he stated.
The Hyuuga flinched back a little, studying his features. He obviously wasn't sure of the Nara's intentions yet.
"Why?" He asked after a short silence.
Shikamaru shrugged a little, putting his hands in his pockets out of habit. "Well…" he started, but before going on, he turned his head in several directions to make sure there was no one around. "Honestly, Sir? To keep him away from the Main House bastards…" After hearing what he had just said, he added with a shy tone. "No offense…present company excluded. I know you have doubts about me, Sir, but we want the same thing."
Hiashi frowned deeply and lowered his eyes. He seemed to be considering his next words. When he spoke his voice was still hard, but softer.
"You are being honest with me, so I will be honest with you. It is hard to trust you. Your intelligence makes it easy to doubt your trustworthiness. And Naras also have a reputation for being liars and cheaters, especially your father... But my brother's wife was very fond of your mother. And she never made mistakes with people. That's why she loved my brother so much." Hiashi stopped for a moment, reconsidering what he was about to say. He looked at Shikamaru with more calm eyes. "If you have more of your mother than of your father, I could possibly come to believe in your word."
He was so tired of being compared to his father, but he decided that it was good progress for the moment. He smiled slightly, and nodded as a gesture of gratitude.
A short while later, each of them took their leave in different directions. Shikamaru walked back to the forest, thinking about what was ahead. Neji would be gone for a long time. On one hand, that sucked, but on the other, it would give him time and space to investigate Neji's mother's death more thoroughly. He needed to identify the names of everyone married to Branch House members to be able to come up with some theories. It would be hard, but he would have to find a way to continue his search while he still kept up with his training.
During the next months that was exactly what he did. He trained with Rajah every day, from mid morning to late afternoon. His mind was moving faster than ever. His memory had proven to be completely photographic, and he could retrieve massive amounts of information from his mind no matter how complicated it was. The most convenient effect of that was that he could see the whole picture when looking into something.
He could have so much data and thoughts in his mind at the same time, and still be focused on all of them because his brain processed them all in fractions of a second. He understood what a boost this ability could give to his already impressive ability for strategizing. The speed allowed him to foresee innumerable possibilities and scenarios and be prepared for all of them. The problem with the Branch sources was that there were still so many missing pieces in the puzzle. He needed more information to understand the whole picture.
Shikamaru knew that his theory was nowhere close to provable yet. He only knew that Neji's mother had died very suddenly from a practically unknown illness caused by Kami knew what, and that there had been a disturbing lack of effort by anyone to figure out why she suddenly fell ill. He had the impression that the symptoms described in the medical report weren't overly uncommon, and could be attributed to many different things. But he had no way of proving that the Main House had had something to do with it.
First, he had to find the people from outside the clan who had married a Branch House member. He knew where the information he needed was. In Konoha's Archive, more specifically, the personal records. He had already checked Branch House Members deaths certificates, but he didn't pay attention to the widowers names. He needed that information. He would get the names and then try to find them, while checking if any of them had suffered from an unexpected mishap like Neji's mother.
For that, he would have to trick Tsunade into giving him permission again. But he was relaxed. He had already planned out exactly what to say.
The woman was ecstatic that he was feeling better. It was then that Shikamaru realized how worried she had been for him. He felt a little bad for what he was about to do. Yes, he was going to take advantage of her confidence in him, but he was doing it for a very good reason.
He told her he was feeling great and that he was ready to start working. His body had atrophied a bit during his recuperation, but he was slowly getting back in shape. She could tell he was exaggerating how much better he was, and refused to send him out on missions yet. Before she could find a job for him he volunteered to investigate the Akatsuki members, and try to design a plan to fight them.
The Hokage was impressed listening to him. She had asked him to do that many times, but he always refused because it was too much work. Being ready to deal with the Akatsuki, or to have a strategy for going after them was one of the most important items in Konoha's defensive strategy right now. As he expected, the woman doubted his intentions and watched him with suspicious eyes.
"What's the catch here?" She asked.
Keeping calm as ever, Shikamaru breathed deep and gave her his most radiant smile. "There's no catch," he argued. "The training with Rajah has put my mind into a state in which I need to use it. I'm wakeful, I'm focused… I'm sure I can come up with a strategy to have a chance against them. I just need a bit of time."
The Hokage was delighted. She had always told him that he could be the best tactical shinobi in the entire village if he wasn't so lazy. Ignoring the slight feeling of guilt, he asked for a full access to the archive, which the Godaime signed with a flourish, looking like she had just gotten a tip on a sure bet.
"I'll start right now," Shikamaru said with a huge grin as he bowed to the Godaime.
Tsunade and Shizune exchanged happy impressed looks as he left the office.
So his act had worked. Now it was time to start searching. Without missing a second, he started walking to Konoha's Archive.
After passing the guard with his brand-new permission, he went straight to the personal records. He had already checked almost all Branch House members files, and he wanted to see how their deaths were registered, but he had not paid attention to the names of their partners, which was exactly what he wanted now. So he went through all records, and wrote their names in a tiny piece of paper. With his great memory he didn't really need it, but he wanted to be meticulous. He would analyze those people's records one by one, trying to find something.
After he had all the names written down, he started searching. The first person was a man. Shikamaru's heart gave a jump when he read he was dead. And it was the same with almost all the others. Way more than half were deceased.
Fuck, things were getting weird. He took the list with the names and read over it multiple times, unconsciously imaging in his mind the faces of all of them. Could the Main House have actually killed those people? He felt his blood pumping faster in his veins with just the thought of that. With his body tight with tension, he wrote on the top of the list the name of Neji's mother. She was the reason for his investigation, and he was determined to find an explanation for her death. It was hard to get his eyes off the paper, but he finally managed to do it, and put it in his pocket.
Now he had to check those people medical records to see if there was any coincidence between them.
Before leaving, he read a bunch of mission reports about Akatsuki encounters, because he knew he would have to give the Hokage proof of his work eventually. But he would take care of that later. After recording everything in his head, he left and headed for the Hospital.
First, he made a quick stop by Choji's house. His excuse being, he wanted to say hi to his parents. Chōza and his wife were very happy to see him healthy again, and insisted he stay for a little while and have something to eat. But Shikamaru refused, alleging that he had taken a very long break and had to get back to work. But Choji's mother wouldn't let him go without giving him a big bag of cupcakes she had just finished baking. He expected as much, and was planning to use them to his advantage.
He had permission to enter in the Hospital's archive now, so he didn't need to trick the receptionist. Still, he thought that the smartest thing was to have her completely on his side. So he gave her the bag of cupcakes, saying that it was to thank her for how kind she had been the last time. The woman was very flattered, and just like that, he had her in his pocket. He could be very charming when he wanted to, and he didn't mind kissing some ass to get what he wanted. Finally, he passed the counter and entered the big room where all the files were stored.
Fast as lightning, he retrieved the names he had just printed in the Archive from his memory and searched for the medical history of the deceased. He read carefully, comparing the records and trying to find connections. There were many different reasons of death, but very few had been caused by injuries. Diseases, infections or failure of some organ or another was much more prevalent. All of them had occurred in very short periods of time, which ranged from just a couple of weeks to one or two months. He knew that if the deterioration of those people was due to the same thing, the difference in time could be due to the different defenses of each person. But he needed more data. He read the symptoms of each patient, and found they matched, even though they had been diagnosed with different conditions.
He couldn't help but to have the same thought he got when reading Neji's mother's symptoms: they were very common, and could easily be interpreted as being due to something already known. Weakening sensation, lack of energy, impoverishment of vision, fever and intense dizziness. Wish such common symptoms it made sense that no one suspected a connection between the cases. Almost all the records he checked included those symptoms, but he couldn't find anything irregular in the urine and blood tests. He would not give up. He was just a little confused, that was all. He needed to squeeze his brain until he found a way to relate all the cases.
It was time for training, so he had to leave everything for later. He had made some progress today, but he still had a long way to go.
He spent the next weeks the same way: going in and out of both archives. Trying to find out something more, while he made tiny progress on the Akatsuki assignment. The rest of the time he used to train. At nights, he wrote possible theories using his code to make sure no one understood what he was doing.
He reached the point of being surrounded by innumerable sheets of paper hanging from the walls of the cabin, where he had transcribed the values read in the medical reports of each patient to be able to see them all together. It didn't matter how much time he spent staring at them, he couldn't see anything strange.
He had to be missing something. Maybe there were ways of making a person sick without leaving traces on their bodies. But how could the Main House achieve that? Using some kind of venom, perhaps?
With this thought in mind he made several trips to Konoha's library. There he read all he could find about poisons and the differences between them. He learned there were several substances that could produce poisoning: heavy metal derivatives, animal poisons, and some toxic plants.
He needed to know more about those substances, and he knew where to find that information. After a particularly exhausting training session he walked, without hesitation, to the Nara laboratories. There his clan studied all kinds of substances, both benign and harmful. Everyone who worked there knew him, so he had no problem entering and starting to analyze the possible candidates. Using the computer, he studied each sample in detail, paying attention to its composition and the effects it caused. Many have points in common with the list of symptoms he was searching for, but most were easily recognizable in blood tests.
After reading for quite some time, one particular substance caught his attention. A plant called Ricinus communis. It had big sturdy leaves that could be used to make several medicines. But that was not all. It was also possible to isolate a toxin from it seeds, which could kill in a few weeks. That sounded promising. So he checked the effects that poison could have on people, and realized they matched with Neji's mother's and the rest of the Branch House member's spouses symptoms. Everything was starting to make sense.
Shikamaru had a strange mixture of sensations: on the one hand, he was elated to have found a possible explanation, but at the same time he was afraid to discover that his theories were correct. If he was right, that meant the Main House had not only killed the Branch House members, but also their partners. And were probably still doing it, leaving children orphaned, alone and helpless. Just like Neji and Hiro. It was horrifying.
He needed confirmation. Apparently the poison derived from the seeds in question was almost impossible to detect. The only indication of the presence of the toxin were slightly elevated blood sugar levels. Feeling his brain trembling with anticipation, he recalled in his brain that specific data of each patient. And yes, there was a teeny tiny deviation from the standard amount of sugar in all of them. But it was so insignificant that he had not paid attention to it.
Shikamaru sighed, frowning deeply. To make sure no one would know what he had been doing, he deleted the program history, and then left the Nara laboratories. He quickly walked to the cabin, determined not to give up. Once there, he checked his notations, but had to admit that the value in all of them was just too slightly elevated to be a strong proof of anything. He knew fooling himself would only lead him to the wrong conclusions.
It was frustrating. He felt he almost had it. Exhausted, he took his hands to his temples and took a deep breath and he let it out slowly. He tried to relax his mind, but it refused to slow down.
The silence of the forest reminded him that it was late night already. He knew he needed to sleep to have his mind in the best condition to keep going with his investigation, but the puzzle felt like an incredibly annoying itch he couldn't scratch.
Shikamaru clenched his teeth and lowered his arms. He knew there was something else there, but still couldn't see it completely. He simply need more time.
Time…
His mind got hooked on the concept, and got lost behind it. Shikamaru could only hear the echo of the silent word inside his skull.
Time…
Almost all the partners of Branch House members he had investigated had suffered during a relatively short period of time, which varied with each person. If they had been poisoned with those seeds, the effects would probably be noticed more in those who had resisted the toxin for a longer time.
He opened his eyes, and turned his head to the wall. He stood in front of his dozens of notes and compared. Patients who had fought with the poison for two months had the highest amount of sugar in their blood. And the levels decreased as the amount of time the person had withstood the poison got shorter. That could be explained easily, since the toxin had simply had more time to act, and would have continued to increase sugar levels in the patient.
Shikamaru clenched his fists. All that shit made simply too much sense.
No. Don't rush, he warned himself.
This data was definitely consistent enough so as to consider the possibility, but it could also be something else. He could be trying to force the evidence to make it look the way he wished, because he wanted to get those Main House assholes more than anything in the world. To make them pay, he would even fool himself.
That was a dangerous thought. After all, he didn't want to end up like his father, regretting his whole life, a horrible decision made because he let his anger get the best of him. And because of Rajah's warning, he knew his brain was also prone to fall into endless wells of guilt and desolation.
No. He wouldn't allow that to happen.
Finally feeling he could relax, he took his cigarettes from the floor and lit one. He smoked in silence with one hand, and put the other one inside his pocket. Immediately, he felt the paper with the list of names. He remembered Neji's mother's name on the top of them, and his heart trembled. He couldn't confirm anything until convincing evidence appeared. But even if he was wrong with his theory, he was going to find out what had really happened to her. No matter how long it took him.
Why can't I read minds like Rajah-sama?, he thought. I wouldn't have to burn off my brain thinking.
It was just a stupid idea at first, but the thought stood turning around in his head until he felt more tired than ever. Then he simply laid on the ground and fell asleep.
A couple of days later, his sensei appeared outside his cabin with a different plan for the day. "I think we've trained you mind enough already," he said, balancing his cigarette between his fingers. "How about a little test to check your improvement?"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.
"Something like the endless equation or the piano thing?" He asked, sighing.
Rajah shrugged his shoulders. "I was thinking of something more traditional," he answered. "Like a written exam."
He stared at Shikamaru cautiously. The boy returned a suspicious look. "That doesn't sound like your style," he said.
The man try to act unworried. "Oh, you know. Change is good…"
But Shikamaru wasn't buying it. He exhaled and looked at him right in the eyes.
"All right, here's the thing," Rajah started. "The Council wants a proof of your recovery. The Hokage says we have to give them one, or I won't be permitted to train you anymore. And you have a lot to learn yet… So, I told her her you could play a very pretty and complex piano piece for them, but they don't think that's valid evidence of improvement. So, they suggested you take an IQ test."
Shikamaru moved his head back and frowned. "I've already taken that test," he said, not liking the idea.
Rajah nodded, understanding. "I know, I know," he answered. "But if you take it again, I assure you,you're gonna get surprised."
The Nara stood blank for a few seconds, realizing he was really expecting him to do it. "What? No!" He argued. "The last time it took me like two hours."
Rajah raised his eyebrows. "Yes," he replied. "And it was meant to be done in four."
Shikamaru gave him an annoyed look. "So what?" He asked. "I won't do it. Besides, I already know all the answers."
"They will give you a different exam." Rajah responded. "More complicated. And you'll break your brand. Trust me. Those idiots will be left with their mouths hanging open."
"You just want to show the Council that your methods work," Shikamaru said. "Otherwise you would never ask me to do it."
Rajah frowned a little. "That's just one of the reasons," he replied. "But I also want to continue your training. We haven't even started with Natural Energy yet." He put on his best pleading expression. "C'mon, kiddo. This is the only language they understand. Cold and empty scores. This will shut them up and let us keep going"
Shikamaru was about to complain again, when a sudden idea crossed his mind. He took a few seconds to think, and then stared at his sensei calmly.
"All right, I'll do it," he said. But before Rajah could cheer, he added: "But in exchange I want something from you."
The man froze and looked at him surprised. Then he frowned, a bit offended.
"Right, forgot you're smart and tricky," he murmured. "What do you want?"
Shikamaru paused before licking his lips, and answering. "I want you to read someone's mind, and tell me what you find."
Rajah frowned deeply and made a step forward, realizing things were serious. He studied Shikamaru's features. "Who's mind?"
The boy held his sensei's stare. "I don't know yet," he replied. "When I figure it out, I'll let you know. But it's probably going to be a Huuyga Main House member."
Rajah opened his eyes wide. "Do you wanna put my ass in jail?" he asked. "Because that's what will happen if those maniacs found out I stole memories from one of them. And as a bonus they'll also beat the hell out of me."
Shikamaru shook his head. "They won't find out," he affirmed. "Because we'll do it right. And I don't care if you don't like it. That's my condition."
Rajah narrowed his eyes at first, but finally he agreed. Shikamaru felt anxious at having such a great weapon at his disposal. It could be a huge advantage if he used it well.
As he promised, he took the stupid test. It was definitely longer than the previous one. In fact, while he was doing it, it seemed endless. And the exercices were indeed way more complex. It took him almost four hours, though Rajah said it was meant to be done in six. He didn't care about that. Honestly, he just wanted to sleep.
But he couldn't. Rajah made him stay in the Hokage mansion until his test was finished being corrected. He was falling asleep against a wall when Shizune came running down the hall.
This time he had scored almost twice as many points as the first time. Rajah and the Godaime's assistant were thrilled, but he was a bit overwhelmed. Was this what his sensei meant when he said he would be surprised by the results?
"Do you understand?" Rajah asked, grabbing him by the shoulders. "It means you're not just smart, kid, but you're actually getting smarter with every passing second!," he gave Shizune a triumphant smile. "Go tell the Council that."
The Hokage took care of telling his mother the good news, and she made sure everybody found out. During the next few days, Shikamaru had to endure everyone's constant compliments and congratulations. All his friends insisted on taking him out to celebrate, and he couldn't find an excuse to run away from them.
All that kept him busy, but his mind was always circling around the Main House. In those times, he started a strange habit: following them around. Every time he came across a Main House member, he would carefully follow him from a secure distance just to see where he was and with whom he interacted. Many times he saw them talking with Branch House members, harassing them and treating them like trash. It was very easy to distinguish them, because Main House members never used their Hitai-ates on their foreheads showing their bare proud skins. Branch House members wore them all the time, keeping the humiliating Cursed Seal covered.
He was leaving the Hokage mansion one afternoon, pretending to take a walk to see if he could run into a Main House member, when one found him. "Kid," a serious voice spoke behind him.
Shikamaru stopped and turned around, to find Hiashi staring directly at him. He bowed respectfully. "Hello, Sir," he greeted.
Hiashi didn't respond. He walked closer to him, and then looked around to check that no one was around. Shikamaru straightened.
"It seems like the deal Hisao made to redistribute those lands has already been completed," the Hyuuga almost murmured. "It was done two months ago, but my informant couldn't communicate with me before now."
Shikamaru blinked a few times. It was strange that Hiashi was coming to him to share this information. Apparently he was actually starting to think he had good intentions. The Nara nodded, acknowledging the words. "So what happens now?" He asked.
Hiashi frowned slightly. "It is hard to say," he answered. "There are some very important people involved in this, so it is not easy to act… We will have to wait a little longer and see what the Hokage can do."
Shikamaru nodded again, and then a short silence followed. "Why are you telling me this, Sir?" The boy finally asked.
Hiashi looked at him with an unreadable expression. "You have shared information with be before, even though you did not have to," he replied. "And since this was your investigation from the beginning, I thought you deserved to know."
Shikamaru nodded. "Thank you, Sir," he said.
Hiashi studied him for a moment. "I trust that if you find out something else, you will continue to extend that courtesy," he added seriously.
The Nara nodded again. "Of course, Sir," he affirmed.
After one last look, the Hyuuga turned to leave. Shikamaru felt his heart jumping when a sudden idea crossed his mind.
"Wait, Sir," he stopped the man. "Just out of curiosity, where are those lands?"
Hiashi raised an eyebrow, not expecting that question. But after a few seconds, he answered.
With the strange conversation over Shikamaru turned around and left. He walked down Konoha's streets aimlessly, just breathing more deeply and roughly with every passing moment, things were starting to come together in his mind.
What he already knew was that the Main House, or maybe Hisao alone, was using sacrifice seals to steal Branch House members chakra that they then sold to a religious order. Judging from what he had heard from Hisao's words the day of the first mission, he had imagined he was using that money to pay the ambassador and get those lands. What he didn't know was what the hell he wanted those lands for. Shikamaru's brain bristled when he imagined a big, vast field, with a neat and recently planted harvest.
Was it possible? Could they need those terrains to plant more Ricinus communis? That would match his hypothesis. Planting all the seeds you can from one of those plants, you could get the double the seeds, which was what he supposed they had used to kill Neji's mom and all the others.
Now he had a way to get evidence. Just like he had done when he went out looking for Hiro's body, he would have to make a little trip. He didn't mind. He simply wanted to solve the damn puzzle, and get some answers.
Shikamaru turned in the forest direction and walked briskly. By the time he got to the clearing were his cabin was he was almost running. It was already afternoon, and the location Hiashi had mentioned was at least a day away from Konoha. And that, only if he went on horse. But he needed confirmation, as soon as possible, and he couldn't ask anyone to do it for him. He'd simply have to go.
When he got inside the cabin he grabbed his backpack. He would be out for two complete days, because he had to go and then return. He would take water and his medical pack, just in case.
He was looking between his thighs when Suimin poked his big head with long antlers through the door. The creature watched him getting ready to go and made a crying sound.
"I'll be back soon," he told the animal. But Suimin only cried louder. "I swear. If I do this I might be able to help Neji. Don't you want that?"
At hearing Neji's name, Suimin raised his ears and started hitting his front legs on the ground, excited. He moved his head from one side to the other, making funny noises.
"You can't come," he said to the animal. "Don't you think it'd be weird for people if they see a guy riding a deer?"
Shikamaru realized he would call a bit of attention with his uniform too, so he took it off and put on regular clothes. After that he left, thinking that Rajah would probably hate him for leaving without telling him, because he wasn't going to find him there tomorrow. Despite that, he didn't hesitate. Walking calmly, he left Konoha behind, and stopped a few kilometers away to rent a horse.
He rode all day and all night, stopping only to let the animal drink and rest. Guiding himself easily by the stars, he came across great expanses of land, practically empty. He only saw the houses of the few people that worked there. When he thought he was in the zone Hiashi had indicated, the sun was about to appear on the horizon, and the sky was an intense pink. He dropped down off the horse and walked to the side of the road.
A field that seemed infinite stretched before his feet. He observed the dark earth, divided into long rows. It seemed to have been worked a short time ago. Only a few small shoots had popped through the surface so far.
Shikamaru felt is body trembling. This was it. There was no point in delaying things. He made a few steps forward and kneeled down to the ground.
He dipped a hand into the damp earth, and cleared a few inches of soil with his fingers to look below. After a few moments of searching he saw something. Very small brown grain, with tiny roots sprouting. The color and size were very similar to what he had seen in the Nara laboratories. There was no doubt about it In his mind, but he would take a few with him for analysis to be 100% sure.
But if it was as he suspected, it meant a high level operation. The whole clan must be involved. Or at least it didn't look like something that could be in the hands of just one person. What surprised him was that the Main House had been using those seeds to kill people related to the clan, but this seemed to exceed the amount of poison they would need for that. Maybe they were starting to trade the toxin to other vile subjects like them.
The Main House had a perfect excuse to plant that shit, because it could also be used to make medicines. But they were still stealing lands to do it. He would need to get his thoughts in order to take advantage of what he had just learned.
Exhausted, he started the trip back to Konoha. The entire way back all he could think about was sleep. And that's exactly what he did when he arrived. The second the got to the cabin that night, he just dropped on the floor face down and let sleep take him.
The next day he woke up in pain with his face pressed against the wood. But he was quick to wake up when he remembered what he had discovered the night before. It was very early in the morning, so he still had time before Rajah showed up and scolded him for disappearing the day before. He had to take advantage of those hours. He went to the Nara laboratories with the handful of seeds he had taken and analyzed them. The sophisticated computer quickly identified the substance and confirmed his hypothesis. There were no more doubts. Neji's mother, as well as many others, had been murdered.
Fuck, he thought.
It was just too damn despicable. And he was apparently among the very few that knew about it. Now came the worst part: telling Neji. The boy had already suffered a lot in his life. How would he feel after finding out that his clan had killed his mother? Shikamaru thought that it was one of the hardest things he had had, or would have to do in his life.
But there was no time for that. Hiashi had helped him find what he needed to put the pieces together, and he would repay that. He didn't know what the man would think of him when he found out that he was digging deep into the secrets of his clan. Honestly, he was terrified of his reaction. But all he was doing was to help Neji. Joining forces with this man was necessary.
Without wasting another second, he went straight to the Hokage mansion and to the man's office. Once there, he stopped at the door. Luckily Hiashi was alone. He met Shikamaru's eyes from behind his desk.
"Yes?" He asked in a dry tone.
The young Nara nodded his head slightly. "Sir, there are some things I need to tell you," he said calmly, keeping his face serious to show the man he was talking about something important.
"Well speak then," Hiashi replied.
Shikamaru nodded, and stepped forward, closing the door behind him. This caught Hiashi's attention, and the man straightened in his chair. Trying to stay relaxed, the boy stepped in front of the desk. He started feeling nervous, and suddenly realized he didn't know how to start. He opened his mouth to talk, but stuttered a little.
"I… I…" He clenched his fists.
Shit. You can't look like an idiot in front of him. You made this serious act, now do it.
"What is the problem?" Hiashi asked, impatient.
Shikamaru lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Sir," he answered. "I actually wasn't sure about telling you this…"
The man pressed his fingers together in front of his pursed lips, and just, looked at the boy.
"Why?" He questioned finally. "Are you afraid of my reaction?"
The Nara boy cleared his throat, doubting. "Honestly? Yes," he admitted.
He could feel Hiashi's eyes on him. "And why have you decided to do it?" The man pressed.
Right. He decided. He was there to speak. Straightening his back, Shikamaru raised his head and stared at him. "Because I think you deserve to know." He stated. After taking a long, deep breathe, he started talking.
He told Hiashi everything he had discovered about Neji's mother's illness, her similarities to other people married to Branch House members, and how he had come to his conclusions. He even admitted having gone to the terrains to take some seeds and analyse them. The Hyuuga listened in silence, opening his eyes wider and wider with every word.
When he finished, Shikamaru simply shut up. Hiashi reclined in his chair and said nothing for a long time. His eyes were round and stared ahead, not really seeing. He appeared to be stunned.
Shikamaru waited. He watched him as his face started contracting with pain and rage. The man clenched his fists and frowned. Hiashi turned his face to a side, closing his eyes. "My wife?" He asked weakly.
Shikamaru almost didn't hear it.
"Was it the same with my wife?" Hiashi repeated his question.
The boy shook his head. "No, Sir," he answered. "I checked, and it was a congenital disease in her case."
Hiashi let out a harsh breath through his nose. He seemed relieved, but still visibly upset. "Monsters," he whispered, shaking slightly and still not opening his eyes. "They didn't have enough with the Curse Seal. That horrible spell they made up isn't even the worst thing they have done. So many children left orphaned and defenseless, ripe for the picking."
Shikamaru didn't know what to say, but he empathized with the man. "I'm sorry," he said, lowering his stare.
Hiashi shook his head, pressing a hand to his temple. "They should be sorry," he replied. "How can someone protect their kids from those bastards? They are capable of anything."
Those words caused Shikamaru to consider something he had never thought about before, though it was pretty obvious.
"Sir. I'm sorry to ask, but…" he hesitated. "Don't you have a second child? A daughter?"
Hiashi opened his eyes a little, but didn't look at him. "Yes." He answered flatly.
Shikamaru kept going. "Wouldn't she be a Branch House member?"
The man's face suddenly shone with a terrible sadness. "She will," he stated. "I have been able to delay the moment by appealing to the fact that her body is still very weak and would not resist, but someday she will also be marked. My father will be in charge of doing it.
Shikamaru frowned a little. "Your father?" He asked.
Hiashi closed his eyes. He was so exhausted and afflicted that apparently he didn't mind talking. "Yes. My father. The head of the family applies the Curse Seal on all the members of our family. My brother, Neji… And soon, my daughter. When he passes away, it will be my job to do it."
Shikamaru opened his eyes wide. That was interesting information he hadn't hoped to get in that moment. So Neji had been marked by his grandfather. That could be relevant.
He controlled his face. Hiashi must not know his intentions went so far. So he asked nothing more. After long minutes, the Hyuuga recovered a bit of his composure and spoke to him.
"Are you going to tell Neji?" He asked.
Shikamaru shrugged. "I think it will hurt him," he answered. "But I think I should."
Hisashi nodded slowly. "I think you should too."
After a short silence the man thanked for the information. He didn't seem angry with him. Shikamaru left the office and returned to the forest.
So he knew who had performed that spell on Neji. And he knew that most spells disappeared when the caster died. Did it meant he had to kill Neji's grandfather? No, he could do that. On one hand he would go to jail for killing another Konoha citizen. On the other, even if the man was a bastard, and he most definitely was, he couldn't bare the guilt of ending a person's life. He didn't feel qualified to decide who lived and who died.
He needed to find another way. He just had to keep investigating.
As he expected, Rajah wasn't happy about have been left waiting the previous day. He didn't need to see inside Shikamaru's mind to know it had something to do with his research, but he preferred to stay out of it. He dropped the issue quickly and walked to the center of the clearing.
"Today we're gonna start with Natural Energy," he said. He gestured to Suimin, who was sniffing the ground close to them. "Come here, boy. Come."
The animal ignored him. So Rajah walked to him and put a hand over his forehead. Immediately, the deer's eyes sparkled with a dark shine and the air trembled. Shikamaru looked around. Something felt different. "That's it." Rajah murmured. "Easy…"
Slowly, a strange black mist started surrounding Suimin's body. The grass around him stirred slightly, as if a strong energy was moving it. The animal relaxed his head and breathed slowly.
Shikamaru was shocked. He had never expected anything spectacular from that deer.
"Now, before we start, I want you to surround your body with chakra." Rajah explained. "If your body is in contact with the Natural Energy directly, it will hurt you. That's why you must never run out of chakra while you're using it."
"Sounds logical," the boy agreed.
It took him a few minutes, but he finally managed to surround his whole body with a layer of chakra.
"You'll be able to do it faster after practicing a bit," Rajah assured him. "Now come."
Shikamaru walked towards him and stopped close. His sensei took him by the wrist, and put his hand were his had been, over Suimin's head. He felt a warm sensation spreading from his palm to his hand, up his arm, and to his entire body. It was like heavy pressure over his skin, and it was a bit painful. He realized he was contracting his muscles to support it. But there was something else. He felt his mind expanding through the whole forest. It was like he could see any person, deer, plant and bird inside the Nara territory. Well, he wasn't actually seeing them, but he could feel them in his skin. He was connected to the Forest, as if they were one.
"What you're feeling now is a very small amount of Natural Energy, channeled through the deer," Rajah explained. "When you learn to perceive it by yourself, you will not need to touch him anymore. I will teach you how to take this energy from your surroundings and store it in your body. I will show you how to control your shadows using this power."
Hard work followed. Rajah was quite tough with his physical training. He made Shikamaru practice with his shadows in multiple ways. Creating thin, almost invisible tentacles, and then transforming them into thick, high columns. He trained hard to be able to manipulate them at his will. And like it had happened with his music training, he realized just how attached they were to his mind and his feelings. If he was calm and focused they moved fast and sharp. But when he was worried, they behaved erratically. Or so it seemed. Every time he remembered that in a few months he would have to tell Neji everything he had discovered about his mother his shadows oscillated strangely, as if they were also troubled.
He felt the effects of the training from the first day. All his muscles hurt. His body was exhausted. He understood quickly that holding all that energy for a few minutes was more demanding than all the workouts he had done in his entire life. Every night, he laid on the cabin floor over the pile of blankets, feeling his muscles complain, and stayed there. He simply had no strength to get up and go on with his search. So the only thing he could do was stare at the ceiling, and think.
He understood very fast what it meant to connect with the forest in the way he could do it now. That allowed him to know what was happening in a very big portion of land, which he also knew really well, because he had grown up there. Besides, the Nara forest was the only place where the Bakugan didn't work. A perfect place to hide Neji. And to set a trap for the Main House.
Shikamaru knew that what gave him the advantage in the confrontation was that the Main House wasn't even aware there was one. That meant he had time to strategize. If he played his cards right, he would be able to choose the battlefield. The Nara forest seemed like a perfect place for that.
After about a month, Rajah told him they were already in the last part of his training. He would give him a final task, and when he finished it, Rajah's job would be done.
"Your last job is to have a project. A big project," his sensei explained. "It can be anything you want, as long as it demands both physical and mental work. You have to use your mind and your shadows to make it happen. That'll give you practice with Natural Energy. I suggest you build something, or something like that."
Shikamaru considered the man's instructions, and thought. But it didn't take him long. He turned around and stared at his cabin. That old and ramshackle hut, with its roof untidily repaired. He could almost see the mess inside. That was the place where he spent most of his time. It was the place he had found to take refuge and think. And it was also where he had kissed Neji for the first time... It was certainly a special place.
"I could remodel this old shack, if the Nara board gives me permission," he said.
Rajah clapped his hands. "That's perfect!"
So first, he asked his clan to take possession of the abandoned cabin.
"Are you sure you want that thing?" The president of the board asked him, surprised. "You know as a Nara you have the right to own a terrain in the forest. When you're twenty, you will have something better. A good actual house."
Shikamaru denied the offer with respect. "I know, Sir," he answered. "But I like that location, and will enjoy the work."
Those were very unusual words for a Nara. All the board members exchanged looks, but no one refused. The good thing about being part of that clan was that everyone could do whatever he wanted, as long as he didn't bother the others. Nobody got into anyone's business.
So during the next months, he worked.
The first thing he had to do was the design. He analyzed the structure and layout of the cabin as well as its surroundings, and even took into account the underground tunnels. Then, he reviewed in his mind all the changes he needed to make to turn the place into a perfect refuge. With precise measurements, he configured exact plans of everything. Once satisfied with his plan, he set out to get the materials.
The good thing about having lived most of his life with his parents was that he had never spent much money, so he had saved almost all his payments without effort. He bought wood, cables, nails and tools, among many other things. He had to hire a cart to transport them to the forest, and he understood why Rajah had said that it would serve to train his handling of his shadows. They were very useful in loading and unloading everything from the cart.
The physical work was immense, and exhausting. But for some reason, he found it relaxing. It was the only thing that kept his mind away from the Hyuuga clan. So all mornings and afternoons, he used his hands and his shadows to reform the cabin. He built several more wooden walls, placed floors and ceilings, and even took care of making all the necessary electrical connections, joining his installation with that of the Nara residences through the underground tunnels. In the same way he installed the water system. He used his shadows to dig channels and to place the thick pipes. But seeing that everything was taking shape encouraged him. Unable to avoid it, he thought about Neji's face when he saw it all. He had to be finished before the boy returned.
It was late afternoon one day, and he was finishing changing the steps of the entrance, when a woman's voice sounded behind him.
"Kami!" His mother said. "What is all this?"
He turned around and saw her. The woman was staring at the piles of materials and at the half construction with wide eyes. He stood up and approached her.
"Hi, mom," he said lowly. He had not told her anything about all this yet.
"So this is what you've been doing?" She asked, looking around.
Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah," he answered. "Rajah-sama's last task is to build something."
His mother heard him but didn't respond right away. She seemed sad.
"Well, I can't say I'm not surprised," she started. "I mean, I can see you have worked hard on this… But… I guess it means you will definitely leave home…" She joined her hands over her chest. "Oh, but you're so young yet…"
Shikamaru walked to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "C'mon mom," he said comforting. "I spend most of the time here already. And I'm just a few minutes away from home. I can be there anytime you need."
She still looked sad, but nodded. "Okay. But you have to eat at home at least once a week," she said, pointing at him with her finger.
Shikamaru laughed softly. "Deal," he agreed. "Want to see the inside?"
He showed his mother his work, and all the sadness disappeared from her face. Probably because she had never seen her son excited about a project before. They sat in the entrance for a few seconds, while he told her about the things that he needed to do to finish.
"It's going to look great, son," she said. "And I bet Neji will like it."
Shikamaru froze. He hadn't expected that. Why was she bringing Neji up? Did she know they…?
"His mother would be so glad to know you boys are friends," she added.
Friends. All right, that was relieving. He needed to divert the subject from his relationship with the Hyuuga to something else. "Isn't there anything else you can tell me about his mother?" He asked.
Yoshino thought for a few seconds. "Like what?" She questioned.
Shikamaru searched in his mind. "Hmmm…" he started. "There's a song she used to sing to Neji, um, apparently… Don't you know it?"
"A song? ", Yoshino repeated, and then smiled, looking ahead. "Well, when Neji was born, it was impossible to get him to sleep. All he wanted was to be awake in his mom's arms, watching her with his huge eyes. The only way Ayame found to make him sleep was singing him a song. A particular song, because no other worked.
Shikamaru opened his eyes wide with expectation. "Do you remember it?" He pressed.
His mother laughed. "Of course I do," she said. "It went like this…"
With a sweet voice, Yoshino sang a beautiful song. And right there, Shikamaru heard the verses Neji had recited in the lake. He smiled, and made sure to record the melody and words in his head.
"But Neji surely knows this song perfectly," his mother said after she was done.
Shikamaru shook his head. "He only remembers a part," he replied.
Yoshino frowned. "That's strange," she commented.
Her son raised an eyebrow. "Why?" He asked.
"Well, when Ayame died, she left him a gift. A beautiful necklace she always wore. It had a special jutsu placed on it. It carried a message for her son. Isn't that sweet? I always imagined the message would be that song, but I guess I could be wrong."
Shikamaru had his doubts. He was sure Neji didn't remembered the full song.
"Are sure he got the necklace?" He asked.
His mother hesitated. "Well, Hizashi was supposed to give it to him when he was older," she said. "But then he died too, so… I don't know."
That was interesting. So Neji's mother had left him something. Could the Main House have kept it after his father's death? He would have to investigate.
The next day, when Rajah arrived to check on his work, he told him there was as song he would like to learn, but he only knew the words. The man asked him to repeat it to be able to hear it. With his amazing ear, he would definitely know how to translate it to an instrument. Shikamaru sang, remembering each world perfectly.
"Can you teach me how to play it?" He asked after he finished.
Rajah smiled relaxedly. "Of course!" He answered. "Just pick an instrument."
He learned the song quickly, and practiced it every night. During the next months, all he did was work on his project and wait for Neji, only leaving the forest to pursue his new hobby of stalking Main House members.
Neji's POV
He was sitting outside his tent late well into the evening, at some part of the border. His team was finishing their meal by the fire, and he had retired with the excuse of meditating. Neji raised his eyes to the dark sky and stared at the bright stars above his head. He felt trapped by the immensity, just as he had felt trapped by Shikamaru's deep, black eyes. Unconsciously, he clung to the Star Chart the boy had given him.
Since he had returned to the border, he had had trouble sleeping. The encounter with those three Main House members had awakened terrifying memories of his childhood, when he was only a 12-year-old boy.
After the death of his father, his uncle had taken the responsibility of protecting him very seriously. He never left his side, and no one could approach him. When he was declared leader of the clan, unfortunately everything changed. Hiashi had started spending long days away from home.
Neji, along with all the other Branch House members, was obliged to perform certain tasks to serve the Main House. These included cooking, cleaning, preparing their things, and above all, keeping quiet and not saying a word. During most weekends, he worked at their banquets and celebrations, along with all the others like him.
In one of those reunions, shortly after turning fifteen, and after his uncle become head of the clan, Hisao had set his eyes on him. And that was when everything started.
Every second Neji wasn't in the Academy, Hisao was calling for him. He was obligated to go, and stay with him. At first the man only stared at him, while he drank in silence. Neji stood quietly and tried to not make eye contact.
A few days later, he remembered Hisao setting his drink to the side and walking straight to him. He dug his fingers on the chair and didn't move. The man took a hand to Neji's face and caressed his cheek slowly. Then, he went up and took his Hitai-ate and the ribbon that covered his forehead. In one movement, he slid them down, revealing the Curse Seal.
Not realizing it, sitting in his tent at the border, Neji took a hand to his forehead. He could hear the voices of his teammates behind him. It wasn't real. It was only a memory. But the fear he felt at the recollection made him feel like it was happening at this very moment.
After admiring the mark on his forehead, Hisao had leaned down and kissed him. Neji moved his head back, but the man held his nape and forced him to stay inches from his face.
"Don't you know what happens to Branch House children when they fight?" He asked with a twisted smile.
He did. They were tortured with the Curse Seal. They had used it on him after killing his father, because he wouldn't stop crying and pressing his face against his father's still body, which was lying on the ground with a hole in his head. When a Main House member activated the seal, he could do nothing but writhe on the floor in pain. He was only five years old, but he never forgot it. After that, every time he had shown the slightest sign of disobedience, the Main House members had punished him with that horrible spell. Yes, he knew perfectly how it felt.
Hisao held him strongly and crashed their lips again, this time introducing his lustful tongue in his mouth. Neji struggled and fought again. He used his fists to hit the man in the chest, but he was much bigger than him and it didn't hurt him. Hisao dug his fingers into his nape and pressed forward. Neji shut his eyes and desperately attacked the man's face with his nails. He managed to make a little cut on Hisao's cheek.
The older man straightened and stared at him with contempt, but shortly after he smiled again. "You will have to learn the hard way," he said softly.
He grabbed Neji by the hair and pulled him up, forcing him to stand. The boy fought, but Hisao easily dominated him. Panting, he put his mouth to Neji's ear, and began to utter words he had heard before.
Pain exploded over Neji's eyes, right in the center of his forehead as the Cursed Seal was activated. He felt his skin burning and his skull being pressed in. There was no way of fighting against it. He screamed in pain, tears flowing down his face, while Hisao slowly removed clothes.
Stop! It's in the past. Just forget it.
But he still had his hand on his forehead. After that day, and for a whole year, Hisao abused him repeatedly. He was simply too ashamed to tell his uncle, or anyone, so he kept silent. Finally, Hiashi ended up discovering it, and beat Hisao nearly to death. From then on, Neji still had to serve the Main House, but no one dared to touch him.
He felt the cold metal of his Hitai-ate under his hand. And that took him elsewhere. To one specific night in the Nara forest, when Shikamaru had slid down his Hitai-ate along with his black ribbon, just like Hisao had done. But the look in his eyes at seeing the Curse Seal had been the exact opposite. The boy hated that mark, almost as much as Neji did.
He thought about the Nara all the time. Fome some reason, recalling those dark memories from his past, he wanted nothing but to get back to Konoha and melt into Shikamaru's arms. He perfectly remembered his attitude in front of the three Main House members that had assaulted him. So threatening and dangerous. Neji raised his head and stared at the sky again. Not being able to control himself, he pressed the Star Chart against his chest.
There was no point in his continued attempts at denying his feelings towards the Nara. Just thinking about him made his heart soften. That was the truth he finally allowed himself to accept. He was eager to return home and see him.
The months crept by slowly. But finally, he had the chance to go back to Konoha for two weeks again. Without hesitation, he prepared himself for the trip, and left the border camp with a few teammates.
He had written to his family informing them he was coming, and also to Tenten, which meant everybody already knew. He couldn't help but wonder if Shikamaru had missed him.
The morning he arrived, he spent it with his family. Then he met with his team, and had a quiet afternoon with them. The entire time all he really wanted was to be left alone so he could find Shikamaru. Finally, when it was starting to get dark, he was able to go.
He walked straight to the Nara forest. Inside, he took a deep breath of the familiar smell of damp earth. He had longed to return to that place since he left. Neji walked the way to the cabin. He wanted to run, but held himself back.
But when he got to the clearing, he stopped. He opened his mouth, not believing what he saw.
Where the cabin had been, there was a big, beautiful… house? Maybe he was in the wrong place. He made a few steps inside the clearing, and studied the construction. What was happening?
"Surprise," a relaxed voice said at his back.
Neji felt his heart jumping at the sound of that voice he had come to enjoy. He turned around, and saw Shikamaru standing not far away from him. The Nara smiled, and his tender eyes told Neji that he had missed him too.
The older boy smiled as well, and walked towards him with long and fast strides. Not even trying to contain himself, he threw his arms around Shikamaru's neck and hugged him.
The Nara held him by the waist and returned the tight, desperate embrace. Neji felt the younger boy lifting him a few inches, because his feet stopped touching the ground. Or maybe he just felt himself floating.
Hello! This time it really has been a long time!
Sorry for the delay, but it's hard to balance writing with daily activities. The good news is that the next chapter is almost over, so there will be an update very soon !
I greatly thank my editor, MirandaZ, for all her great work.
I hope this chapter is not boring. The next one will be very intense!
Love!
-Edition and corrections by MirandaZ-