Dear guest: Thank you for such kind words. I hope you don't mind me dwelling tiny things that drive people!

In terms of other things, I've updated the story description because I have come to terms that angsty writer writes angst.

Some pretty common questions addressed below, hopefully this chapter doesn't scare you away before you reach there yeah?

Musical Inspiration: The nightcored versions of 'Mine', 'We Don't Talk Anymore' and 'Hopeful'. Mostly the middle one.


Year 5

Time, Belief, Hope

And The Play They Put Up.


Act I

Hyuga Hiashi is in parts both he, and his brother.

Hyuga Hizashi was in parts both he, and his brother.

When Hiashi killed the Kumo Ambassador, he was channelling his brother's love for his own children. So likewise, when Hizashi volunteered to go in his place as the corpse, he was channelling his brother's devotion to the clan.

At birth, when they were both christened Hiashi and Hizashi, they were born identical twins.

To most of Konoha, this meant that one of the twins would become the Head of the Main Family, and the other the Head of the Branch.

This was true, but that wasn't all it meant.

Hyugas don't believe in identical twins.

They believe that the world creates people different.

This belief is particularly strong in the elders, people who had seen war, and have survived.

The strong destroy and own the weak.

The deserving will succeed, and this is a decision of nature.

Hiashi, he was born first, and the elder.

Representing the spreading of a fire, strength, dominating all that was around it, through every obstacle he would burn.

It represented, to the rest of Konoha, his stubbornness and one-track mind. An inability to feel properly, to only measure people in terms of their worth, and trial by fire. If one burned and died, then he would think little, because that person was weak.

Hizashi, he was born next, just seconds after, the younger.

Representing the rays of the sun, he would hang in the sky, bringing light to the world, and never be thanked for it. For the sun must never harm, only allow the clan's glorious deeds be seen.

It represented, to the rest of Konoha, his fate as someone who would only be used and never be acknowledged. To always be stepped on by the clan, to be considered lesser, and be called the servant.

Before the age of 3, their names could be used interchangeably between the two of them.

After then, no more.


Act II

This is a story of life as they turned 3.

Being born twins is a life shaping experience.

Looking at your brother and seeing yourself is another thing that changes the way you perceive yourself.

Hiashi and Hizashi were taught their names, and of their differences the moment they could talk and hear.

Writing came later, but their differences were never obvious to each other.

One moment, he could be Hia, and the other, he could be Hiza.

They only ever did this in privacy, the honourable elders did not approve of showing kinship and emotion.

'Hiashi' was the name of the clan head to be, the one expected to think of the clan, to think of the betterment of the clan, to think of the clan's good name. 'Hiashi' was not allowed to feel, not allowed to care, not allowed to show emotion at any cost because he was superior and emotions were a sign of weakness.

'Hizashi' was the name of the branch head to be, the one who would be branded by that ugly green mark. The one meant to serve 'Hiashi', the one who would be looked down upon, the one whom the clan cared less for. Showing emotions, for 'Hizashi' was almost expected, a sign of weakness of him as a lower being.

But for the twins, they believed that they were born as a complementing set, that they were half of each other.

When people called for 'Hiashi' either twin could respond, replying in impeccable speech, voice polite, if cold.

When people called for 'Hizashi', either twin could respond, albeit gentler, meeker, submissively, only waiting to serve.

Perhaps, at that young age, the imprint of 'Hiashi' being older had already taken hold. 'Hiashi' was older, he was meant to protect 'Hizashi'.

This was not a thought that either voiced out, nor was it one the elders would have encouraged.

They weren't self-sacrificial, they were protective.

And when the elders called for 'Hizashi' to step forward, the one who kneeled and got branded, was 'Hiashi'.

Whether this was the brother born first or second no one really knew, not even the twins themselves.

Only 'Hiashi' identified as 'Hiashi' at that moment, and at that point in life, permanently became 'Hizashi'.


Act III

When Hizashi struck Hiashi, immobilising him, he gently caught his brother in his arms.

His voice was warm, tone compassionate, agreeing to the suggestion of the Lord Hokage and the elders.

For once, he wanted to have a say in his own life.

Rather than be tugged about as a toy, and as an object, he wanted to make his own choice.

Even if the outcome was the same, he wanted to willingly protect his brother.

So then, he identified as the elder brother, and he wanted to go in his twin's stead.

For no one in the world could tell them apart, not even each other.

They were identical in every shape and form, in values and morals, in feelings and emotions.

In going to Kumo, he went as Hiashi, that his brother left behind, would be able to take his place.

The only constant between them was the unconditional love they had between them.

With that, 'Hiashi' was all that was left.

And he struggled.

Struggled to be the head of both the Main Family and the Branch Family, struggled to love his daughters, struggled to fill in the gaps that 'Hizashi' left.

Lastly, the ashes brought back didn't fill that hole.

His voice is as cold as ever, and he struggles to inject the warmth that 'Hizashi' once could.

Gently, he passes the letter his brother once wrote, closing shaking fingers around the paper.

He looks down at his brother's child, his nephew, and he tries to smile.

He struggles to apologise, because until now, he's borne the hate of the boy in front of him as atonement.

"Neji…"

'Hiashi' sees the boy reel in shock, and bitterly he grimaces, because he's a poor substitute for his brother.

"The day you lost your father,"

Slowly, he lowers himself to the height of the child, lightly pressing his hand to the top of that head, seeing hair swept back to expose that green cross.

"I lost my brother."

He detaches himself, turning, leaving.


Act IV

Akimichi Chouza, Yamanaka Inoichi and Nara Shikaku grew up together.

Just as Akimichi Chouji, Yamanaka Ino and Nara Shikamaru have.

Ino-Shika-Chou is the order in which their compounds are, lined next to each other.

Ino, the mid ranger, symbolising the mind.

Shika, the long ranger, symbolising the spirit.

Chou, the close ranger, symbolising the body.

Emotional, Spiritual and Physical.

Ino, the motivator, fiery and determined, in turn both the most empathetic and the most cold.

Shika, the strategist, cool headed and lazy, in turn both the most perceptive and emotionally inept.

Chou, the shield, steadfast and concerned, in turn both the most caring and dense.

Empath, Dissector, Caretaker.

Yamanakas are found both in the Counselling Sector and the Investigative Bureau, mind-walking.

Naras are found both in the Strategy Division and in the shade, napping.

Akimichis are found both in the First Response Division and in the civilian sector, cooking.

They were all leaders, strong and skilled in their own right.

Equally so, they were all weak, dependent and most of all, just human.

Of the 3 affiliated clans, the Akimichi are emotionally the most stable, because they value loyalty and steadfastness above most things.

Yamanaka are considered the least, because they're wildly influenced by the minds of the people around them. It's not unknown for Yamanaka to go mad.

The Nara, are considered the hardest to predict.


Act V

"Time dulls all wounds," it's a popular saying.

For Shikaku, he prefers the saying that drinking does that.

Every now and then, have a get together, break out the alcohol, and reminisce the old times.

He's the sad drunk, Inoichi the mad one, and Chouza the happy one.

All three are well aware that their children, talking and playing in the yard firmly discourage drinking.

But they're used to it.

Inoichi's kid convinces them to stop, once they're had too much.

Chouza's kid takes away the alcohol.

His kid brings water, and makes them drink it.

Secretly, he suspects that Shikamaru uses his Shadow Imitation technique on him.

Their natures are both similar, and their blood aspect would make it easier for him to influence the movement.

"But why water though, Shikamaru?"

Inoichi's daughter asks it, and they three adults just continue drinking water.

"Sakura-nee said so."

It's not just faith and trust behind that statement, because he goes on to explain.

"She said that since you remove fluids when you urinate, you should replace it to prevent dehydration."

"It's not that water prevents hangover, Shika-chan, just to replace lost fluids and prevent dehydration."

And right on time, Inoichi stumbles out of his seat, for the bathroom.

He drinks his water.

"Slower, Tou-san. If not you'll throw up."

He arches an eyebrow at his son, obeying easily.

"How demanding. Since when are Naras so assertive?"

It's a tinge of humour in Chouza's laugh.

"A motivated Nara is," his kid pipes up, smiling, "A motivated Nara like Shikamaru."

And he watches Shikamaru run a hand through his hair, like him, muttering something about troublesome.

He smiles behind his glass.

A motivated Nara indeed.


Act VI

Yamanaka Inoichi is a well-respected member of Konoha's T and I Division.

It was him who specifically put Yamashiro Aoba on Lady Haruno's escort detail.

The mission was a complete failure.

Not only was he unable to gather information, he was unable to assess Lady Haruno's for her risk rating.

Finally, as a more personal thing, the failure was not knowing of Nara Yoshino's passing.

Among the higher echelons, there were a few specific people who knew that Nara Yoshino was deployed on a long term infiltration to Kumo.

Almost as if rubbing the failure in his face, Aoba even knew the name that Yoshino took on.

He would even frown at the lapse in information, but Inoichi is a well composed man.

Still, come April, most, if not all of those who had been privy to that knowledge were filled in on what happened.

First, were the medically trained, they read Sakura's medical treatise.

Next, were those directly affiliated to said doctors, Shikaku fell under this category.

The Nara were active in medical research after all, not to mention, most considered Naras to be backers of Sakura.

In legal terms, Shikaku was her proxy, but on her end, she gained little to nothing from them, other than people assuming an affiliation.

The third, and final tier of people who knew, would include him and those within their circle.

Information like this was largely privatised as much as possible, because the funeral itself was not widely known.

Ninja are by large the private sort, Inoichi knows that Shikaku is no different.

So perhaps he should stop treating Aoba like a criminal.

No reason for Kumo to publicise the death of one of its Kunoichi.


Act VII

He's spent his whole life switching masters, serving under powerful people.

Each time his allegiance changes, so does his personality.

It conforms to suit his master's needs.

Master?

How presumptuous.

He considers himself an opportunist, and he's patient.

He doesn't thirst to be out from under someone's thumb.

Kabuto has always been the adaptable sort.

Never having clearly defined his own values, killing the person who gave him a name, killing his teammates when he needed to be free of them, it's simple for him to say that he doesn't get attached.

He's only ever curious.

"Senpai!"

He smiles at the pink haired child walking towards him.

Her eyes are so old, yet she is so young, he thinks.

"Ready to knock off?"

She nods at him, "Our usual?"

"Yeah, just let me return my doctor's coat to the sterilising department and we can go."

She catches up, and he waits for her.

They walk down those white hallways, and he wonders.

What does she believe herself to be?


Act VIII

They walk through the doors of the shop, and the server greets them pleasantly, "Your usual table is unoccupied! Will you all be having the usual?"

The two share a look, before nodding.

The server smiles, "Alright, I'll be right along with your tea."

Without fail, she and senpai come here for lunch every Tuesday.

She knows exactly how Senpai likes his mackerel.

Grilled till crispy, with coarse salt. No lemon, but daikon without soy sauce.

He likes eating the skin alone, but pairs the fish with rice.

"Kabuto-senpai, you're Genin, right?"

He hums in agreement, chewing his fish.

"Have you never looked to a promotion?"

Senpai gives her an almost curious look.

"To Chunin, you mean, Sakura-chan?"

She shrugs.

"Or whatever there is after Genin."

He rubs the back of his head almost bashfully.

"I'm glad you have so much faith in me, kouhai, but my team and I aren't that strong. At least, our sensei just agreed to nominate us. He said we can go for the one in September. It'll be the one held in Konoha, because the March one is in Kumo and we never participate in that one."

She wills herself to just agree neutrally, prevents her mind from taking a darker turn.

Because every village has wonderful people and no village is perfect and sometimes she thinks she's turning into a monster.


Act IX

Kabuto knows what dish is coming for Sakura, knows exactly how she likes her agedashi tofu, and in what order she eats the sides.

Always the carrots, cut into flower shapes, dipped into the sauce that pools around her tofu.

Then, soy sauce liberally over her daikon, and she eats it with her chopsticks.

Meanwhile, she systematically rotates her cubes of crisped tofu, ensuring the sauce seeps into the potato starch shell.

White chopsticks spilt the tofu cubes width wise, then length wise.

Then, she eats them one by one, accompanied by rice with furikake mixed into it.

"Dessert?"

He asks this with a fond smile, a knowing glint in his eye.

The waiter brings today's wagashi over, introducing those which are new today.

Sakura serves tea for both of them as he carefully divides the sweets into 2 equal sets, lining them neatly.

"Taiyaki with red bean, daifuku as usual. Senbei, freshly made, is today's special."

He catches the sudden jerk reaction of his kouhai, who continues pouring tea as if nothing has happened.

Their waiter is not a ninja, he hasn't picked up on it, merely smiling and telling them to enjoy.

She slides back into the booth, absent-mindedly pushing her sleeves up.

That's mark one, because her sleeves end just after her elbows.

She only ever tugs at her sleeves like that when in kimono, or when purposefully detaching herself.

Her fingers hover over the senbei cracker, and the hesitation is just for a second.

His kouhai goes for the daifuku, and that's mark two.

She always tries the new snack first.

He doesn't raise it, smiling warmly when her eyes drift up to meet his.

Lightly nibbling on the daifuku's snowy mochi outer covering, he watches her wince reflexively when he crunches on the senbei.

This isn't a mark, but his kouhai has never reacted this way before.

Kabuto seems to sense the mood, and he eats slower, matching her pace.

They refill their tea cups thrice, a new record for them.

By the time their meal is over, she seems to have reverted back to his quiet usual pink haired friend junior.

It's his turn to pick up the tab this week.

"Oi Kabuto, we're gonna be late!"

His team mates holler at him just as they step out of the shop.

"We've got 15 minutes to get to our gathering point. Don't be so dramatic."

Kabuto, the helmet.

He smiles at them, apologising anyway.

"Meet Haruno Sakura, my junior from the hospital."

Misumi elbows Yoroi, "He wasn't kidding when he said pink hair. That's really pink hair."

"Sakura-chan, my team mates, Misumi Tsurugi and Akado Yoroi."

She half bows, murmuring that it's a pleasure, and Yoroi nods in reply.

They take their leave then, Sakura remarking faintly that they have 10 minutes left.

As they break into a run, the wind carries the faint tone of her amusement.

"Helmet, Sword, Armour. Is your sensei Shirudo-san?"

"I like that one. She's got a sense of humour. But close enough. He is Koen-sensei after all."


Act X

Sakura works on incorporating physical ribbons into her dance routine.

Suzuki-sensei insisted that using real ribbons and chakra ribbons would be different.

And she's true, to a certain extent.

For Sakura, her own chakra is easier to manipulate.

"Besides your chakra ribbons can't turn into every colour you'd like. So it's always good to prepare."

It isn't that she's purposefully disrespecting sensei, just that they can't seem to see eye to eye.

But she's willing to trust that sensei knows better, so she gives, on some things.

They've begun preparing for her final exams and they begin selecting colours and comparing skin tones.

"We're going for something that will look nice with the soft glow of your chakra ribbons. Something still natural but covering up most imperfections."

Sensei cautions her, telling her to keep her skin clean and take care of her health well.

Her skin is naturally fair, and Suzuki-sensei chucks sunblock at her.

"Don't get sun spots, don't get tan lines and please, no matter what, don't become tanned."

She finds it queer, that such attention is payed to her looks.

Don't ninja go out and kill people?

She wonders what kind of ninja actually puts on powder like sensei does to her face.

Wonders what kind of ninja needs 28 shades of pink and red lip stick.

And looking in the mirror, she can't tell the difference.

It certainly feels different though, and not in a good way.

"It's a pity you cut your hair, because even if you let it grow now, I won't be able to work with your hair. It'll be too split."

Her eyebrows crease.

Sensei sounds like a beautician.

"I've worked out a couple colour schemes to fit with you. The current geisha outfit doesn't allow many hiding places, so I snuck in a couple for you."

The design specifications are pushed over to her.

"In the sleeve, a few pockets. A precise jerk, and the thing you hide inside will fall right into your palm. Medicine, poison, sleeping drug, your choice. Make sure you don't stab yourself though."

Suzuki-sensei holds out a vial, the needle engaged.

"Perfectly tailored for these little dosages. You work at the hospital, so it won't be hard to get your hand on the medicines. If you want poisons though, you'll have to come to me. I'll introduce you to some people."

She nods, looking at her sensei in a new light.

"Sensei, what about the bill?"

Suzuki-sensei looks at her for a moment, before laughing, shaking her head.

"Money minded, as always. You'll pay for the medicines and poisons as you need them. The kimono and ribbons are covered as course materials."

She sweeps through her dance moves, sensei watching as normal.

"Ne, sensei..?"

The white ribbon just brushes the floor.

"Yes?"

She imagines the kimono around her, and watches how far apart she can actually place her feet.

It's not restrictive per say, but the dance emphasises slowness and grace.

"What kind of ninja are you?"

From the floor, ten centimetres up, that slight punctuated dip, then higher, and repeating.

"I'm a support type, like you. I gather information. By any means necessary."

She swings to the side, swaying in tandem with a silent song.

"What about the music for my exam, sensei?"

Sakura closes her eyes, visualising the floor, head moving.

"What a sudden topic change, Haruno-chan. I teach the traditional dances, so on the day, your tester will choose the song. No worries, it won't be a high speed rap, as far as I know, none of the possible testers like new generation music. Besides, I heard you did them some kind of major favour, enough for them to treat me, one of their bastard children fairly well."

Her dance draws to a close, and she cocks her head to the side.

"Who..?"

Sensei looks her up and down.

"I may not have very high clearance, but the whispers about you, they're favourable, even if dangerous. You should be careful."

Sakura takes it as that, because sensei places a finger across her lips.

"I'm not allowed to say. Before, if you had seniors, they would have told you. But you're alone. Our profession is slowly dying out, and even you don't intend to practise it."

It's a wry grin here.

"I can't tell whether humans have changed, and if this is a step forward. But it's good, I guess. The connotations that come with our job have never been nice."


Closing Act XI

Hiashi can't remember who he was born as.

He only knows that now, he is only 'Hiashi' and that 'Hizashi' is gone.

Still, that traitorous bit in him, that last bit of 'Hizashi' in him, can feel.

. . . . . .

It's also for that very reason that the Nara are considered the most dangerous.

The most intelligent, the most motivated, the ones with the most to lose, the most protective, the most careful.

. . . . . .

And Inoichi knows full well that it's a close crisis averted, because Shikaku is still stable.

Frankly, he doesn't know why he thought otherwise, and as much as he hates to admit, all of it might have started because he cleared one Haruno Sakura as a Safe Entity.

Too late to retract his decision, and after everything is said and done, she did help.

. . . . . .

Kabuto has always watched carefully, made sure no one paid too much attention to him.

Made sure he was detached, made sure he could up and leave, cut off any loose ends.

Tsurugi and Yoroi were expendable, but they were Lord Orochimaru's.

They make an off remark on how Sakura would be interesting to their Lord.

He erases their memory.

He's getting attached, because for once, he has a friend who validates his existence for who he is, no matter how confused he is with himself, Sakura-chan only smiles and tells him that he is real.

"Yakushi Kabuto-senpai. Delicate Operations Level 3 Clearance Team Leader. Skilled, kind, patient. Genin, male, alive."

And that, for him, is a start.

. . . . . .

Hyuga Suzuki, "Just Suzuki please," has never been fond of her father's family.

She thinks they're pricks.

They look down on her because her mother is a civilian, and she ended up being born with very weak chakra.

Sent to become a ninja, she ends up in the Intelligence Division.

She and Anko were batch mates, they stuck through thick and thin.

They're always sent out as a set.

"Overkill," they like to call themselves, when deployed like that.

There's not a single target they can't woo.

People in their division can never keep steady relationships going.

Whether it's on either end that the connection frays doesn't really matter.

The result is the same.

So one by one, she closes off opportunities for her remaining student to enter Intelligence.

Anko respects this, and never raises Sakura's names around their higher ups.

She gracefully diverts conversation away from her student, whittles down their interest, and pushes Sakura to be better known in the medical community, because she doesn't want Sakura to become one of them.

That child is an idealistic child, one who wants to believe in good, but believes in evil and hence loses faith in the world. So jaded and so cold, so young and yet so pure still.

She can't stand the thought of that white ribbon drawing blood despite it being inevitable.


Finale Act.

It's been years, but just on the tip of her tongue, Sakura can taste the sweetness of an Uchiha senbei cracker spreading.


Common Questions:

Did Yoshino really not love Shikaku?

Ans: No one really knows, it could have been her infiltration mask, it could be bottled up Shikaku's POV is definitely biased because he is critical of his self.

So is she dead?

Ans: Yes.

Will this affect her relationship with the Nara clan?

Ans: Hope this chapter cleared it up, but it will not affect Shikamaru-Sakura relations. Shikaku-Sakura, well, yeah. Last chapter showed this.

Is Shikaku /in his delusions/ or otherwise in love/lusting/ with Sakura? Alternatively I ship Shikaku x Sakura now?

Ans: Author had not intentions of making the chapter sound that way, I only realised after a reviewer pointed it out. So um, if you like, you can intepret it that way, it's a valid opinion. But no, author never thought of it as that. I am sorry if people like that pair, but in this kind of context, (Coined by Kurogami Mika) it's a slippery slope. (If I ever feel up to it, I might write a oneshot Shikaku/Sakura AU pair, or... one of you could write for all of us:)

Is Hanabi the clan head/branded by the cursed mark?

Ans: The fight in chapter 8 where Hinata downs Hanabi was the test fight. Right now, the head-to-be is still Hinata. No, Hanabi is not branded. Like explained up there ^^^ I think that Hiashi has enough love in him to protect his children from such a thing.

Thanks for all the support everyone!