"...And is all I have to report. Hokage."Kaito said to Nauto. To everyone, standing before them. Passing on the information Hikari gave him. After arriving back to the village with Boruto and Shikadai. Whom he quickly took to the hospital for treatment.
Their parents and the others arrived to check upon the children. It was no surprise their feelings upon his return. He faced the repercussions of the others in Hikari's place. Being the lighting rod, he wasn't the only one either. Word had reached the others about their little mission. From the other children. Having gotten caught in covering for Bourto and Shikadai. The fact all of them where all in didn't go unpunished. But, it was a for a admirable reason.
Hikari.
It was clear they did for her, Boruto and Shikadai. Went along despite it all, knowing well they still had training to do. She was their family and that was all. Of course neither of them would admit it they went because they love her. Seeing their son's like this, reflected how their parents were with May. Doing the same thing. Going to full extent to save her. So, Naruto couldn't that upset with them. He would do the same thing and still would.
All of them would. Again.
And now their kids were repeating the same with Hikari. Lying to protect. Forsaking to defend and assist. So the girl wouldn't be alone. Like her mother was years ago.
The similarities between mother and daughter where so parallel. Shikamaru saw it as clear as day. The girl's mission was the same too. What Kaito told them, how he and Natsuki managed to interfere before Hikari could cause any sort of damage to either of her cousins. A way for her to prevent them from following. To protect them. She didn't want them to get hurt. To be dragged in the mess she believe she made. Everyone knew how skilled the young Hyuga was. Even without her eyes, her mother was well known for her medical skills. She had to have picked up a few things, especially about antonym. Gaara remember hearing from her teacher.
"Her knowledge on the antonym is unparalleled."
Weak points. She was able to find weak points on nearly anything and should she find them. It was over. Either kill or just subdue. Kaito gave further information, how Natsuki was accompanying the girl to the whereabouts of the attacker. Giving a valid location of where they're located. A place the others wouldn't have thought twice about and where quite shocked it to be there. Never the less, they had the intel needed to go. The only other missing piece was about the children. Information, Kaito didn't have.
That information was the most crucial. For everyone.
Hearing everything the young man presented to him, Naruto knew the next move. Standing up from behind his desk all eyes on him. His answer clearly upon his face on what action to take. With a commanding presence and voice.
"Gear up."He orders."Send out word to every nation to make sure to double their defenses. Triple Konoha's."Shikamaru starts to dictate the Kage's orders. Gaara telling Kankuro the same thing.
Shikamaru also orders protection for his sister too. Guards around the clock. All that was needed was the team. Without a second thought or hesitation Lee stepped forwards, along with TenTen. Followed by Kiba, keeping true to his promise he made along with Konohamaru. Shino included himself, along with Sai. Ino would have but she choose to stay back to tend May. Doing everything she can to keep her alive. But Tsunade insisted she go. While she and Shizune would keep May alive. So she switched with Sai, taking his spot. Karai geared up and ready to go. Taking position to protect May. Sakura was ready too. Leaving her daughter in Hinata's care.
Knowing it's been a long time and feeling like this was a nothing but a repeat. Temari geared up and ready. Shikamaru had no objections knowing if he did, he would surely get it. Their son was left in his mother's care. Who told her son to bring back her grandchildren. To bring everyone back. And just like his father, his mother telling him in so many words. Reminding him of the oath and his responsibilities as a brother. He knew if didn't, he couldn't face his father in the afterlife, should he fail. Heck he wouldn't be able to face anyone.
He would bring his nieces and nephew back. Back to his sister.
"Brother, my family is everything."
Family. It was the extremely important to her, Shikamaru knew how deeply she valued it. Above anything. To her everyone was family, just like her life back in her world. Through her memories he saw how much she cherished them. How happy she was being around them, the same when they were younger. Her time spending with his family. Every morning waking up happy to know she had a family waiting for her. To spend time with. Eat with. Hug and love. The same as they got older and had families of their own. She did those same things. Always mention them to him, whenever they had a chance to talk. Which was pretty much every week. Despite their busy schedules. They always set time out for each other.
And they would continue to do so. Shikamaru would make sure of it. Tucking away something in pocket.
"Sir!"Someone burst in, getting everyone's attention. The urgent look on their face and in their voice."...It's...It's.."They stammer."It's Lady May!"
"ARHHHHH!"Hikari lunges at Sasuke, who just steps aside from her strike again and again. She didn't stop and kept going trying to land just one strike on him. The others stood around watching her engage the man.
His evasion frustrated her, that she didn't realize her focus was off. Crashing around the base, Suigetsu stood there surprised Natsuki hadn't bother to do anything at all. While Karin panic and angrily yelled at the girl for being so destructive. Which Suigetsu annoyingly commented if she was going to do anything about it, earning a slap from her.
Again Hikari missed Sasuke, quickly she delivers a another strike which he quickly evaded. Heaving heavily, she wasn't done quickly taking assessing the man's movements finds it...putting it all into this one strike bolts like lighting. All her rage, all her emotions Sasuke could see it. Natsuki saw it too to late.
"HIKARI! NO!"She hollers trying to stop the girl, to be blown back by the shockwave from the attack once it landed. Thinking quickly she moved out the way taking Karin with her, just as fire imploded.
Suigetsu managed to change his body into liquid before anything really. Though he could still feel the heat emitted from it. Waiting for the dust and fall debris to clear, to make sure it was safe, all eyes where in shock at what they saw. A corner of the lab was badly scorched, beakers melted, the floor melted and a charred indented hand print on the wall that was the only thing visible. And a weaken Hikari clearly out of energy, collapses to be caught by Sasuke. Whom she brushes off, but to no avail. He catches her in his arm.
Looking down at her, he saw her guilt and rage beginning to fuel again. He saw her hurt and pain. Deep regret. Her own determination to set everything right. Though the most prominent was hate. The hate she had for herself. For everything. He couldn't help but sympathize with her and squeeze her for comfort. Which she didn't want and pushes back, pushes away from his hold. Nearly stumbling back, but, gets her balance. Standing strong.
For her legs to give out, falling on one knee."Hikari! Hikari!"Natsuki comes over to her, checking for any injuries. Finding just a few marks here and there.
"MY LAB!"Karin yells in the back. Suigetsu turns back into himself, dusting himself off."Well, that was entertaining."He jokes with a smirk."Still think if we ha-"He was quickly silenced by a sharp look from Sasuke."N-Never mind."
"Hikari..let me see your hands."Natsuki tells her, noticing her clenched fist, with some burn marks. Reaching for one, Hikari yanks it away turning her back, casting her eyes down. Her bangs casting a shadow over them.
Everyone was quiet, Karin even turned around her heart went out to the Hyuga. Sasuke stands up and walks over about to place a hand on his niece."Move!"Suigetsu screams and rushes to tackle Hikari.
Whipping out and throwing a few upon the walls, quickly forming a snake hand seal. The explosive tags detente and explode, giving Hikari the cover she needed. Using the dark smoke and slight confusion escapes. Her eyes activated made it easy for her to make her move. Easily avoiding the others, coming out into a long hall. She waste no time and sprints away. Though to make sure no to be followed she throws two Flash Bombs, back into the room to hopefully blind them. Before leaving she grabs a few things.
Leaving the hidden lair disappears into the shadows.
Sasuke wanted to know why, why she had to do this. Well, that was her reason and reason alone. No one had anything to do with this, only she did. This was her own mistake to fix, no one else. Looking at her burnt hand, it still surprised and shocked at what she just did. Never had...in history she knew of the Gentle Fist being able to do what she just did.
So much destruction, so much power in that one strike. Confident it would be enough, enough to provide her with the strength needed. Clenching her fist, ignoring the pain, it was nothing. Nothing like the pain she's caused. The pain she feared her siblings might be going through, if...if it wasn't too late.
Yoshi. Her sisters. Come to her to her mind, urge her to push faster. Her mother came, she saw her clear as day smiling. Smiling, surrounded by Gaara and her siblings. Loved and appreciated.
Angry hot tears come to her eyes, but she forces them down. There was no time for such emotions. Wiping them away. She would fix everything, jumping down a cavern. Yeah, that's what she would do. No one else needed to be apart of this...she didn't need to be...
"Kar-Kar!"Yoshi chimes with a bright smile.
"Hikari, my little light."Her mother said with a loving smile.
Shikamaru and Naruto burst in the hospital room. Gaara turns around to them, they rush right by him to the bed side. Sakura, Tsunade and Shizune move out the way to for them. Shikamaru grabs hold of his sister's other hand, while Gaara had the other. Both men squeezed it firmly. Naruto held his breath like the others in the room, the tension was uncertain and tensed. Time seem to stand still. From what they where told, it just...they hoped it was...
Placing a gentle hand on the side of her face, Shikamaru refused to mourn. Begging and pleading to faith to be kind. To be very kind.
"Shikamaru,"Shikaku looks to his son, the two of them stood outside on the patio, the man glances over his shoulder at the kitchen window. Watching his wife and May, happily preparing dinner. The two of them smiling, made the gruff man smile too.
This father's sudden pause made Shikamaru look too, catching the two in a shared laugh. It surprised him, seeing his mother laugh like that, but warmed his heart seeing May.
"As a brother,"Shikaku continues."Now you have a job to do."His son looks at him."It's your job to protect your sister at all cost. No matter what. Even if she is in good health. You always have to be there. Visible and in the shadows. A son takes that job of a father's once the father is gone. Eventually, I'm going to have to pass it to you."
"Well, that's annoying."Shikamaru complains. Sighing.
"Annoying or not. It's what you sign on for as brother. Be her strength no matter what, even if Death comes knocking. Knock them back."
"Isn't May strong enough already..."
Shikaku smirks with pride."Yes, that she is. Very. Still, you provide her with more strength. More protection. Whatever it is she needs. Though it doesn't seem like it, May, she's going to need you. She's always going to need you. Even though she will form other brotherly bonds, you will always be her true brother."
His son gives a heavy sigh. About to say something against it, when May comes out to get them."Father. Brother, it's time for dinner."She said running over and taking Shikamaru by his hands, giving him a smile. One that was so bright he couldn't help but smile back."I made something new, with mother. I hope you like it. Brother. Then after dinner could we enjoy a nice game of shoji?"
Shikamaru wasn't sure what to say for those few seconds. His mind wanted to say something against it. Opening his mouth, rising a hand."Sure."He said, then gives her a teasing flick. That made her smile even more. And it was then he knew what his father meant.
Still squeezing her hand, Shikamaru waited. When...those bright golden eyes slowly opened. It was a struggle at first but they opened. A weak and tired breath escaped the lungs, slowly everything begin to move. Her eyes hazy as they look around, darting from Gaara, to Shikamaru to Naruto. Trying to focus on one of them. Hearing running footsteps closing in.
"Is she?!"Lee blurts. Kiba and the others behind him, they see the slow and little movement. A sigh and smile of joy and relief. Tears came in everyone's eyes.
Gaara gets lower so she could see him. Focus on him, tenderly he brushes her hair back. Happiness in his eyes, holding her hand to his face kissing the back firmly. It got her attention. Her fingers slowly intertwine with his. Struggling to speak, nothing but gurgling came out.
"Don't."Naruto tells you.
Your eyes look at him, then slide slowly over to Shikamaru, who was beyond glad to see you. He gently cradles your head to his chest and cries. Planting a kiss on your forehead. Froze when he heard you, heard your whimpers. Made him hold you tighter. His heart broke, his father was right. He was right, he had to be your strength. Right now. The room fell into a heavy silence, everyone was able to hear your gurgling whimpers. That affected them all, Gaara's heart bleed and weep for you. For his wife.
He opens his mouth to tell you."I'll bring them back."Shikamaru tells you."I promise."
"No."Naruto said."We will."